News Summary

Major tech companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are increasingly investing in nuclear fission startups to secure stable and sustainable energy sources for their data centers. These investments include power purchase agreements and direct funding, focusing on innovative small modular reactor (SMR) designs. Kairos Power, for instance, has secured a deal with Google to supply 500 megawatts of electricity by 2035, utilizing molten fluoride salt for cooling. Oklo, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is developing reactors cooled by liquid metal, though it has faced regulatory challenges. Saltfoss, formerly Seaborg, is exploring the use of floating power barges equipped with SMRs, with investments from notable figures like Bill Gates and Peter Thiel. TerraPower, founded by Gates, is constructing a larger Natrium reactor in Wyoming, featuring molten salt energy storage. X-Energy, having raised significant capital from Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, is progressing with high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors. These strategic moves by tech giants underscore the growing role of nuclear energy in meeting the rising power demands of the digital era.