When behind-the-meter nuclear makes sense

In a recent datacenterHawk podcast, VP of Sales Mike Netzer spoke with Thomas Jam, Founder and CEO of Copenhagen Atomics, about nuclear energy's role in powering the growing data center industry. The discussion centered on next-generation thorium molten salt reactors, exploring their potential to deliver scalable, cost-effective, and reliable energy. Jam delved into the innovations driving his company, the regulatory challenges, and his long-term vision for transforming global energy.

Copenhagen Atomics' mission is clear: disrupt the energy market by creating reactors that are at least ten times better than existing solutions. For Jam, cost is the most critical factor, with a goal of making his reactors five times cheaper than conventional nuclear plants. To achieve this, the company focuses on overcoming long-standing challenges in nuclear power, including lengthy construction timelines, cost overruns, waste management, and safety concerns. Their approach integrates fuel reuse and streamlined manufacturing to drive down the overall cost of energy production.

While ambitious, the path to commercialization is complex. Jam discussed the extensive regulatory process, from site approvals to safety and operational permits, which has pushed their production goal from 2028 to 2030. A demonstration reactor planned for 2027 in Switzerland marks a key milestone in their journey. Jam also highlighted a U.S. initiative aiming to deploy new reactors by 2026, reflecting growing momentum in the nuclear sector. In the long term, the company envisions mass production, with a goal of manufacturing one 100 MW thermal reactor per day, adding 10 gigawatts of electrical capacity annually—a transformative scale for energy-intensive industries.

The conversation turned to nuclear power's application in data centers. Jam explained that the financial viability of a dedicated, behind-the-meter nuclear power plant depends on scale. For smaller 100 MW data centers, connecting to the grid is more economical. However, as campuses scale toward one gigawatt, building private power infrastructure becomes more attractive to avoid high grid service costs, which can double electricity prices. Jam emphasized the complexity of this approach, which requires multiple reactor units, backup systems, and potentially battery storage to meet the high reliability demands of data centers.

Jam placed data center energy needs within the broader context of global consumption. Heavy industries like steel, concrete, and aluminum manufacturing remain far more energy-intensive. For example, one oil refinery can use five gigawatts of heat, dwarfing the energy demands of most data center campuses. Jam projects a tenfold increase in global energy usage over the next century and argues that only nuclear energy can scale to meet this growth. He believes nuclear will become a cornerstone of the future energy mix, as other sources face scaling limitations.

The discussion underscored a key reality: while nuclear power is poised to play a vital role in data centers, its integration will be a deliberate process. On-site nuclear reactors for every data center may not be practical, given the economic and regulatory complexities. Instead, the most impactful applications will emerge at the gigawatt scale, reshaping the grid and powering the largest infrastructure campuses. Copenhagen Atomics’ focus on creating a better, scalable energy solution highlights a vision extending far beyond today’s needs, addressing long-term global energy challenges. For data center operators and investors, the takeaway is clear—nuclear power holds transformative potential, but its full impact will come through strategic, large-scale deployment.

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