Google Signs Agreement to Use Kairos Nuclear Micro-Reactors for Data Centers—Is the 2030 Timeline Too Ambitious?

Google has announced a partnership with nuclear startup Kairos Power to construct seven small modular reactors (SMRs), aimed at generating electricity for its data centers. This initiative is expected to provide approximately 500 megawatts of carbon-free power, addressing the increasing energy demands of data centers and artificial intelligence technologies.

The new reactors are projected to be operational by the end of the decade. It is still uncertain whether these reactors will connect directly to Google’s facilities—a method referred to as "behind the meter"—or supply power to the grid, allowing Google to claim the carbon-free electricity through its agreement with Kairos.

With this agreement, Google joins major players like Microsoft and Amazon in exploring nuclear energy to meet their electricity needs. Recently, Microsoft revealed plans to collaborate with Constellation Energy to restart the Three Mile Island reactor, which has been inactive since 2019. Earlier this year, Amazon announced the construction of a hyperscale data center linked to another nuclear facility in Pennsylvania.

If Kairos Power can meet its 2030 timeline, it signifies a shift from its earlier projections of early 2030s commercial operations, as highlighted in a U.S. Department of Energy article from July. However, Kairos is in a competitive landscape, vying against fusion startups aiming to launch commercial-scale power plants before 2035.

Kairos is part of a new wave of nuclear startups focused on developing small-modular reactors, designed to cut costs and accelerate the construction of nuclear facilities. Traditional nuclear plants are typically large, generating over 1,000 megawatts, with construction timelines stretching across several years. The latest fission reactors in the U.S., Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Georgia, are set to begin operations in 2023 and 2024, although they have experienced significant delays and cost overruns.

Small modular reactor technologies aim to streamline construction and reduce expenses through mass production methods. Kairos is innovating further by utilizing molten salts—specifically lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride—for cooling systems, diverging from conventional water-cooled reactors. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has given the green light to Kairos’s plans for a 35-megawatt demonstration reactor, a milestone that other SMR startups like Oklo have yet to achieve.

Despite receiving regulatory approval, Kairos still encounters substantial barriers. Currently, no commercial small modular reactors have been put into operation, rendering the economic viability largely untested. Furthermore, their molten salt technology challenges decades of reliance on water-cooled reactor designs.

Moreover, Kairos's greatest hurdle might not be technological but rather public acceptance. While 56% of Americans support nuclear energy, as reported by Pew Research, 44% are opposed. This opposition could increase as specific reactor sites are proposed, since the survey focused broadly on nuclear energy expansion rather than local acceptability. Although enthusiasm for nuclear power is at a near high point, support for renewable energy sources like wind and solar remains significantly stronger, given their current availability and lower costs compared to new nuclear facilities.