Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy Ep 441: Shannon Bragg-Sitton & Bill Kleyman - Nuclear Nexus: Data Centers, Episode 2
Mar 25, 2024
Bill Kleyman, CEO of Apollo and expert in AI infrastructure, joins Shannon Bragg-Sitton, a nuclear engineer and division director at Idaho National Laboratory, to discuss the synergy between nuclear energy and data centers. They explore how small modular reactors can meet the increasing energy demands of data centers driven by AI, and the evolving role of nuclear in community energy solutions. They also address reliability strategies and the need for clear communication to enhance public acceptance of nuclear technology, paving the way for more sustainable future energy options.
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Match Nuclear Size To Data Center Demand
- Data center power needs vary widely from megawatts to gigawatts and require matching nuclear options.
- Right‑sized nuclear (micro, SMR, multi‑module) can flex to site electricity and cooling demands.
AI Is Driving Massive Power Demand
- AI and generative models have driven explosive growth in compute density and site power requests.
- Single deals now request hundreds of megawatts, pushing data centers toward gigawatt‑scale planning.
JLL Briefing Highlighted Gigawatt Requests
- Bill recalled a JLL briefing showing single site demands jump to 300+ MW and questions for 500 MW–1 GW.
- He contrasted that scale to entire continents and countries to stress how extraordinary the shift is.