Micronuclear reactors could cost as little as $20 million and launch in 2031 – but will that be enough for data center operators and the AI industry?
As AI continues to drive exponential growth in data centers, ensuring sufficient power supply has become a major challenge.
Chat with HPC wireJames Walker, CEO of Nano Nuclear Energy, outlined how micro nuclear reactors could provide a viable solution. These small, portable reactors are designed to provide clean, safe and reliable energy to meet the growing demands of data centers and other industries.
Nano Nuclear Energy is focused on developing microreactors that are compact enough to be transported by road, rail or sea. This mobility makes them ideal for remote locations, including data centers, which often require large amounts of power but have limited access to traditional energy sources. According to Walker, the company’s microreactors are designed to be plug-and-play, meaning they can be easily installed and removed with minimal infrastructure or personnel on site.
Regulatory approval
The company’s microreactors are also designed with safety in mind. Unlike traditional nuclear power plants, which carry risks of overheating and meltdown, these microreactors use advanced technology to ensure safe operation. Even in the event of total mechanical failure, the reactors are built to passively dissipate heat, preventing catastrophic consequences. Walker stressed that nuclear power is already the safest form of energy when measured in deaths per gigawatt-hour, and safety is even greater with microreactors.
One of the biggest challenges in deploying these reactors is regulatory approval.
Currently, nuclear regulations are strict, particularly regarding the transportation of fully loaded reactors. However, Walker noted that there are indications of potential regulatory changes that could facilitate the deployment of microreactors. For example, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Project Pele is developing microreactors for military bases, which could help streamline the regulatory process for commercial use.
Nano Nuclear Energy is on track to have its first commercial microreactors ready in the early 2030s, with prototypes expected as early as 2027. These reactors, which could cost as little as $20 million, offer a scalable solution for the growing energy needs of data centers and other industries.
Walker acknowledges that people will always have concerns about nuclear reactors, especially when it comes to the issue of nuclear waste, but he told HPC wire“When people talk about waste, they forget that if you were to take all the reactors that have ever operated in the United States, and I’m counting the submarine reactors, the aircraft carriers, all of those things since the ’50s. So all of that and you would put all of that waste in one place. It wouldn’t fill a football field. It’s a tiny bit of spent nuclear fuel that is generated by the operation of these reactors. And it’s the only type of energy where, you know, 100 percent of your waste is down to the last atom at any given time. So it’s very safe to say that it’s the safest and cleanest form of energy that we’ve ever come up with.”