Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has revealed plans to use nuclear power to help run its data centers in the United States. The company is looking to add between one and four gigawatts of nuclear energy to power its operations, starting in the early 2030s.
This move is part of Meta’s broader goal to find more sustainable energy sources for its large data centers that store and process vast amounts of information.
Meta is currently seeking proposals from nuclear energy developers, asking for partners with experience in either Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) or larger nuclear reactors. The company is not focused on any specific location for the reactors, meaning they are open to proposals from various parts of the country.
Meta had previously considered building a nuclear-powered data center but canceled those plans earlier this year after a rare species of bees was discovered near the site.
In a statement, Meta explained that they believe nuclear energy can play an important role in providing stable, reliable power for data centers, as well as for the surrounding communities.
The company views nuclear energy as a way to help meet the growing electricity demands of both their data centers and local areas.
Meta is not the only tech giant interested in nuclear energy for powering its operations. Google recently made a deal to build several nuclear reactors in the U.S. to provide 500 megawatts of power using Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
Microsoft has also announced plans to bring back the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania to supply energy for its AI projects.
In outline, Meta is joining other major tech companies in exploring nuclear power to meet the energy needs of its growing data centers, particularly as the demand for AI and other technologies increases.
