AI Fueling Growth of Nuclear-Powered Data Centers
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Data centers are becoming more power hungry due to artificial intelligence (AI) processing demands. An AI data center needs 80 megawatts compared to 32 for a standard one.
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Companies are looking into small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) as a power source specifically for future data centers to meet their energy needs.
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Several companies have SMR designs tailored for data centers which they claim can be built quickly, safely, and cost effectively.
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Proponents argue SMRs can provide consistent, abundant energy for power hungry AI computing. Critics question hype around costs and safety.
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Some companies predict having nuclear-powered data centers in operation within the next 4-6 years, though obstacles around regulation and public perception remain.