Google has been seriously executing its go-green plans for over a decade, and the company is now partnered with Kairos Power, a leading engineering firm that focuses on affordable and sustainable nuclear energy solutions.
Both companies signed an agreement to create next-generation clean energy technologies, promising a carbon-neutral environment. Google will now start purchasing nuclear energy from SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) developed by Kairos Power.
Google will purchase the energy from the nuclear plants and supply the power to its data centers, and the first deployment is expected by 2030. This move is generally welcomed by energy experts, as they consider both renewable and nuclear energy inevitable to achieve carbon neutrality goals.
Why this Partnership is Important?
The agreement is to develop a master plant to deploy nuclear power projects with a target of around 500 MW by 2035. Here are two reasons why the agreement is important:
- With the advent of AI technologies and other scientific innovations, the world now needs new types of energy sources to support this progression. Google aims to help technological advancements, improve services to businesses, and increase economic growth by driving competitiveness.
- The global energy crisis and the climate issues are two of the major issues that we humans are still attempting to tackle. Google is trying to enable carbon-free power that can be beneficial to various communities looking for clean, renewable, and affordable nuclear energy. It may help the decarbonization process to speed up.
Why did Google choose Kairos Power?
Kairos Power’s advanced technology enables Google to reduce the time taken to construct a power plant, and the company has already proven its effectiveness by deploying its nuclear reactor that works through a long-term commercial scale.
Kairos Power’s advanced nuclear reactor project was the first to receive a permit to construct from the U.S. NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission). Its molten-salt-cooled reactor reactor produces cheap, reliable, and carbon-free electricity.
What Does it Mean for the Carbon-Neutral Future?
The electricity demand is increasing, and it is projected by experts to double around 2050. If we aim for a net zero future, we need renewable energy and nuclear power. Both the key resources require backup power and financial costs.
If Google and Kairo Power can commercialize nuclear technology with affordability as a primary motive, more communities will benefit from the project. It will significantly improve the quality of life and tackle various climate-related problems.
How Affordable Nuclear Energy Benefits Us?
The affordability of nuclear energy will benefit all sectors, mainly transportation and agriculture. Also, it can to an extent tackle the contemporary geopolitical issues and other significant problems faced globally.
- Transportation: Nuclear energy can facilitate the wide adoption of electronic vehicles, Also, it can contribute the energy needed to produce Hydrogen fuel, significantly reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.
- Geopolitics: The ongoing geopolitical tensions have affected the energy sector, and according to World Energy Outlook 2024, it is the core reason for the energy crisis. Geopolitical issues in Europe and the Middle East have increased consumption, inflating the price. Nuclear energy is like a double-edged sword here, and if rightly used, it can be highly beneficial.
- Agribusiness: The agriculture production after the technological revolution has transformed the global food economy, however, the whole process needs high usage of fossil fuels. With the advent of cheap nuclear power sources, we can revolutionize agribusiness through automation and increase production, which results in the affordability of food products.
- Artificial Intelligence: Google’s major energy consumption is attributed to AI systems that demand huge amounts of energy, and the collaboration with Kiaros Power will result in a major reduction of costs and carbon emissions, creating a space for new technological innovations. Beyond the automation of works through AI, another process nuclear energy will help is cryptocurrency mining.
- Nuclear War: Experts believe that affordable nuclear energy will force countries to create new peace treaties, reducing the risk of using nuclear energy for destruction purposes. However, certain scientists and geopolitical experts are not so optimistic about it because of the issues with the innate nature of human beings.
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