Nuclear power for data centers
Data centres are now one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand, and the largest buyers are signing contracts for nuclear power. The reasoning is simple. A data centre needs firm power around the clock, the operators want it to be low-carbon, and the grid in many regions cannot connect new load quickly.
How fast data centre demand is growing
The International Energy Agency's Energy and AI report gives the global picture. Data centres used around 415 terawatt hours (TWh), or about 1.5% of global electricity consumption in 2024. In the IEA's Base Case that roughly doubles to around 945 TWh by 2030. The United States accounted for the largest share of consumption in 2024, at 45%.
The U.S. Department of Energy published a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory analysis with similar findings. U.S. data centres consumed about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity in 2023 and are expected to consume approximately 6.7 to 12% by 2028.
At the level of a single site, the IEA says a typical AI-focused data centre consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households, but the largest ones under construction today will consume 20 times as much. Our page on data center power requirements breaks down where that power goes.
Why nuclear fits the load
A data centre is a near-constant load. Servers account for around 60% of demand in a modern data centre, according to the IEA, and cooling for the rest of the mechanical load. The facility does not switch off at night or when the wind drops. Three features make nuclear a natural match:
- Firm output. A reactor runs continuously for long periods, so supply follows a flat load without large storage.
- Low carbon. Nuclear generation emits no carbon dioxide at the point of use, which supports operator emissions targets.
- Small footprint. A reactor delivers a great deal of energy from a small site, which matters when land near fibre and substations is scarce.
For the background on the technology, see small modular reactors and micro modular reactors.
What the largest buyers have signed
The public agreements show both the appetite and the timeline:
- Google and Kairos Power. The initial phase is intended to bring Kairos Power's first SMR online by 2030, followed by additional reactor deployments through 2035. The deal covers up to 500 MW.
- Amazon and X-energy. The companies aim to bring more than 5 gigawatts online in the United States by 2039.
The IEA's view of the global supply mix matches these dates. It expects the first small modular reactors to come online around 2030.
The timing gap
That is the central problem for a data centre developer. The demand is arriving now, but the reactors arrive later, and the grid is slow too:
- Grid delays. The IEA estimates that around 20% of planned data centre projects could be at risk of delays unless grid risks are addressed. Building new transmission lines can take four to eight years in advanced economies.
- Interconnection queues. Berkeley Lab's 2026 queue study found that the median duration from interconnection request to commercial operation was over 5 years for projects built in 2025.
- Reactor licensing. Every new reactor needs a licence, a site and fuel. DOE says HALEU, the fuel many advanced designs need, is not yet available at commercial scale. See HALEU vs natural uranium.
A developer that waits for the grid or for a first reactor can leave a finished building idle. The practical answer is to separate the two problems: get firm power on site now, and phase nuclear in when it is licensed.
Co-location and behind-the-meter supply
There are two broad ways to connect a reactor to a data centre. One is front of the meter: the reactor feeds the grid, and the data centre buys the power under contract. The other is co-location, where the generator sits on or next to the campus and serves the load directly, behind the meter.
Co-location reduces dependence on new transmission, but it is not a regulatory shortcut. The reactor still needs a full nuclear licence. Grid-connected co-location also has to satisfy the local grid operator's rules.
How BridgePower Nuclear approaches it
BridgePower Nuclear is a joint venture of USP&E and BAM Energy, set up for exactly this gap. It is built in two phases on one site, under one contract and one operator.
Phase one, thermal power now. USP&E supplies thermal power on gas, diesel, HFO or dual-fuel. It runs grid-tied or behind the meter, and is backed by 24+ years in power, 150+ power projects in 45+ countries, 2,000+ MW in stock and 400+ engineers and project managers.
For a data centre, that means power to energise the building on a known schedule, and a path to firm low-carbon supply on the same site once the reactors are licensed.
Questions to ask any nuclear supplier
- What is the licensing status of the design, and in which jurisdiction?
- What fuel does it need, and who supplies it?
- What powers the site before the reactor is operating?
- Who operates the plant, and who holds the licence?
- How does the plant connect: to the grid, behind the meter, or both?
- Does power conversion need cooling water?
If you are planning a campus and want to talk through phasing, contact our team.
Frequently asked questions
Why are data centers turning to nuclear power?
Data centres need large amounts of firm, around-the-clock, low-carbon power. Nuclear runs continuously, has a small land footprint and does not depend on the weather, which matches a load that rarely switches off.
Are any data centers powered by small modular reactors today?
Not yet at commercial scale. Agreements have been signed, such as Google with Kairos Power and Amazon with X-energy, but the IEA expects the first SMRs to come online around 2030.
How much power does a data center use?
The IEA says a typical AI-focused data centre uses as much electricity as 100,000 households, and the largest now under construction will use 20 times as much.
What is bridge power for a data center?
Bridge power is on-site generation that serves a data centre while a permanent supply, such as a grid connection or a nuclear plant, is still being built. It is often installed behind the meter.
Can a data center run on nuclear power behind the meter?
In principle, yes. A reactor can be co-located with the load and serve it directly, subject to licensing, site approval and the rules of the local grid operator.