Short Wave Why Big Tech Wants Nuclear Power
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Dec 17, 2024 Geoff Brumfiel, NPR's science correspondent specializing in AI and nuclear power, dives into the tech giants' pursuit of nuclear energy to meet soaring demands from AI systems. He discusses the potential for nuclear plants to provide vast, emissions-free power and examines skepticism around these investments. The conversation highlights innovations like X Energy's small reactor designs and the historical context of nuclear power, stressing the urgency of finding sustainable solutions as AI's energy appetite grows.
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AI's Energy Hunger
- Big tech companies made climate commitments years ago, aiming to reduce emissions using renewables.
- AI's high energy demands now challenge this approach, making renewables alone insufficient.
Three Mile Island's Revival
- Three Mile Island, site of a past nuclear accident, is being revived by Microsoft's investment.
- The plant, now Crane Clean Energy Center, demonstrates nuclear's carbon-free electricity generation.
New Reactor Designs
- Even Three Mile Island's output is insufficient for AI's needs, prompting investment in new reactor designs.
- Companies like X-Energy, backed by Amazon, are developing smaller, modular, meltdown-proof reactors.