Google, TVA and Kairos Power ink first U.S. deal for a next‑generation nuclear plant to power Google data centers by 2030

Google announced that it will join forces with California startup Kairos Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority to develop an advanced small modular nuclear reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee .  The Hermes 2 plant will be the first facility deployed under Google’s corporate agreement to buy energy from multiple small modular reactors and is slated to power the company’s data centers in Tennessee and Alabama .  Under the long‑term power purchase agreement, the project will deliver 500 megawatts of generation‑IV nuclear capacity—enough electricity for roughly 350,000 homes .  U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright hailed the collaboration as a breakthrough that will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and support America’s growing digital economy .  Since there are currently no commercial generation‑IV plants operating in the United States , the deal marks a pivotal step toward providing carbon‑free, round‑the‑clock electricity for energy‑hungry data centers and positioning the U.S. as a leader in advanced nuclear power. Read more.