Google Company announced the location of its first nuclear reactor, the energy from which will go to supply the company’s data centers within the framework of cooperation with Kairos Power. The Hermes 2 facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee will supply 50 MW of nuclear power to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) grid, which powers Google’s data centers in Tennessee and Alabama.
The company first announced a long-term partnership with Kairos Power in October 2024. The goal is to provide up to 500 MW of nuclear power for US infrastructure. Google emphasizes that this project is a tripartite solution where energy consumers, utilities and technology developers work together to implement new energy solutions.
Under the agreement, TVA will purchase electricity from the Kairos Power Hermes 2 reactor, which is slated to start operating in 2030. Next, Google will receive clean energy through TVA for its data centers. In addition, Google has signed a contract to supply clean energy in the US, which provides for up to 3 gigawatts of capacity. The first phase will provide 670 MW and cost more than $3 billion.
In the field of nuclear energy, Google is not alone among large technology companies. In June, Meta signed an agreement with XGS Energy to supply 150 MW of electricity from geothermal sources and purchase from nuclear power plants. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is investing $500 million in nuclear projects, and Microsoft has signed a $1.6 billion contract to restore a closed nuclear power plant.
