Climate Positive

Scaling nuclear for data centers | Brandon Oyer, Head of Americas Power and Water at Amazon Web Services

Dec 12, 2024

Brandon Oyer, Head of Americas Power and Water at Amazon Web Services, spearheads major initiatives to integrate nuclear energy into Amazon's sustainability goals. He discusses the urgent need for power generation to meet the growing demand from data centers. Oyer dives into Amazon's pioneering agreements with both large-scale and small modular nuclear reactors. The conversation highlights the bipartisan support for nuclear, the economic benefits of these initiatives, and the vital role of nuclear energy in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

26:27

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Brandon Oyer

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Quick takeaways

Nuclear power is gaining bipartisan support as a viable clean energy solution to meet the growing electricity demands of data centers and industrial facilities.

Amazon's strategic investments in Small Modular Reactors aim to enhance energy efficiency and safety while contributing to its net zero carbon goal by 2040.

Deep dives

Bipartisan Support for Nuclear Power

Nuclear power has emerged as a bipartisan issue, gaining attention from both political sides due to its potential benefits for clean energy and economic growth. A recent announcement from Amazon regarding nuclear power was welcomed by a diverse group of stakeholders, showcasing a collective understanding of its importance in the energy sector. This pivotal support highlights the recognition that nuclear technology is a viable solution to address growing energy demands while meeting climate goals. The consensus across the aisle indicates potential for longevity in support for nuclear initiatives moving forward.

Intro

2min

Navigating Nuclear and Renewable Energy

8min

Exploring Nuclear Energy Partnerships for Sustainability

2min

Advancing Nuclear Energy: The Promise of Small Modular Reactors

8min

Reflections on Growth and Nature

6min

Growing demand requires growing supply. With more and more data centers and industrial facilities coming online, the United States will likely need 40 GW of incremental peak power generation – requiring hundreds of billions of dollars of related investment – just over the next few years. As large corporate buyers of power seek to meet their climate goals, they are increasingly looking at nuclear power as a scalable and cost-effective option.

In this episode, Chad Reed chats with Brandon Oyer, Head of Americas Power and Water at Amazon Web Services (AWS). They discuss Amazon’s recent efforts to contract with existing large-scale and new small modular nuclear reactors, the benefits and risks associated with nuclear power, growing bipartisan support for nuclear development and much more.

Links:

Amazon signs agreements for innovative nuclear energy projects to address growing energy demands

7 ways Amazon is thinking big about nuclear energy

David Goggins

Episode recorded November 25, 2024

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