Over the last year, we’ve watched as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft clued into the value of nuclear. Now, Meta is getting in on the fun.
The Facebook and Instagram parent company announced on Tuesday that it would issue a request for proposals (RFP) from nuclear firms as it prepares to add 1–4 GW of nuclear power to its operations by the early 2030s.
The tech energy mix: Meta and the other hyperscalers have been looking for reliable energy sources to fuel the AI boom and its power-hungry data centers. They’re looking to do that through clean, emissions-free methods (and the clean energy tax credits don’t hurt).
- For its part, Meta has contracted 12+ GW of renewables around the globe.
Nuclear power fits the bill when it comes to powering data centers, as it’s carbon-free baseload power with the consistent output tech giants need. But it’s not without challenges.
“Compared to renewable energy projects that we continue to invest in, such as solar and wind, nuclear energy projects are more capital intensive, take longer to develop, are subject to more regulatory requirements, and have a longer expected operational life,” reads a Meta blog post about the RFP. “These differences mean we need to engage nuclear energy projects earlier in their development lifecycle and consider their operational requirements when designing a contract.”
Picking and choosing: Meta is keeping its options open as it puts out the RFP. It ultimately wants to add 1–4 GW of nuclear capacity to power and decarbonize its operations, but it’s interested in whatever technology will make that happen, from next-gen SMRs to traditional light water reactors. The company hasn’t said how many proposals it will ultimately select.
Lead Reporter of Ignition
