Meta Search For Nuclear Power Developers For Reactors Who Started Operations Early 2030s

Meta Platforms Inc. wants to develop nuclear power (photo: dock. meta)

JAKARTA Meta Platforms Inc. announced a search for proposals from nuclear power developers to support the goals of artificial intelligence (AI) and their environment. This move makes Meta one of the major technology companies eyeing nuclear power amid forecasts of a surge in electricity demand.

The company plans to increase the capacity of new nuclear plants in the United States by 1 to 4 gigawatts from the early 2030s, according to an official release. In comparison, the average capacity of one nuclear plant in the US is around 1 gigawatt.

On Meta, we believe nuclear energy will play an important role in the transition to cleaner, reliable, and diversified power grids, the company said in a statement.

Goldman Sachs estimates that data center power usage in the US will triple between 2023 and 2030, requiring additional generating capacity of around 47 gigawatts. However, meeting this surge in demand quickly using nuclear reactors is not easy as the company has to face challenges such as strict regulations from the US Nuclear Regulation Commission, potential barriers to uranium fuel supply, and opposition from the local community.

Previously, Microsoft and Constellation Energy announced an agreement last September to reactivate units at the Three Mile Island power plant in Pennsylvania, which will be the first reactivation for the data center. In March, Amazon.com purchased a nuclear-powered data center from Talent Energy.

Meta said it was looking for developers with expertise in community engagement, development, and licensing. They will consider both small modular reactors (SMRs) that are developing but not yet commercial, as well as larger nuclear reactors as those in the current US nuclear plant fleet.

Proposals from developers can be submitted until February 7, 2025. Meta explains that they use the proposal request process (RFP) because nuclear power projects are more capital intensive, require longer development times, and are subject to more complex regulatory requirements compared to renewable energy projects such as diesel and wind.

The RFP process allowed us to approach these projects with thorough and careful considerations, added Meta.