Meta has announced its latest initiative to explore nuclear energy, seeking nuclear developers to collaborate on powering its artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability projects. The company plans to add between 1 to 4 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear capacity in the United States, with deliveries expected to begin in the early 2030s to support data centers and decarbonization efforts.
This announcement follows a setback in November 2024, when Meta had to abandon a nuclear-powered data center project due to the discovery of rare bees at the proposed site. Despite this challenge, the company remains committed to advancing nuclear energy as a cornerstone of its strategy to meet growing energy demands.
In a blog post dated December 3, Meta stated it will issue a request for proposals to identify nuclear developers as part of an open approach to establish partnerships within the industry. The demand for nuclear energy has surged recently, driven by the significant rise in AI technology.
Meta emphasized that advancements in technology, particularly the next wave of AI innovation, necessitate that electrical grids expand and adopt reliable, clean, and renewable energy sources. The company believes this will provide stable base-load power to meet the energy growth needs of its data centers.
This initiative follows Google's signing of the first corporate agreement for the purchase of nuclear energy from small modular reactors in mid-October.
Meta seeks to identify developers capable of accelerating the availability of new nuclear generators and creating sufficient scale to achieve material cost reductions through the deployment of multiple units. The company aims to work with partners who will ultimately license, design, develop, finance, construct, and operate these plants, ensuring the long-term thinking necessary for advancing nuclear technology.
While nuclear projects require more capital and have longer development timelines compared to renewable energy projects, they also have longer operational lifespans. Meta acknowledges the need to engage in nuclear projects earlier in their development cycle and to consider operational requirements when designing contracts.
The blog post titled 'Accelerating the Next Wave of Nuclear to Power AI Innovation' outlines Meta's commitment to clean energy development as electrical grids expand to meet growing energy demands. The company has been focused on integrating 100% clean and renewable energy into its global operations since 2020, totaling over 12,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy contracts worldwide to date.