Insider Brief
- Google has partnered with Elementl Power to develop three advanced nuclear energy sites in the U.S., each aiming to generate at least 600 MW of baseload power.
- The agreement includes early-stage development capital and an option for Google to purchase power, supporting its 24/7 carbon-free energy goal by 2030.
- The collaboration highlights rising private-sector investment in nuclear technology as a scalable solution for AI-driven electricity demand and net-zero emissions targets.
Google is betting on advanced nuclear energy to power its data centers and future artificial intelligence growth, striking a deal with Elementl Power to explore three potential sites for new reactors in the United States.
“Google is committed to catalyzing projects that strengthen the power grids where we operate, and advanced nuclear technology provides reliable, baseload, 24/7 energy,” Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Data Center Energy, Google, said in a press release announcing the agreement. “Our collaboration with Elementl Power enhances our ability to move at the speed required to meet this moment of AI and American innovation.”
The agreement commits early-stage development capital from Google to support the siting and planning of three projects from Elementl Power, a startup launched in 2022 to build next-generation nuclear plants. Each project is expected to deliver at least 600 megawatts of baseload electricity, with Google retaining the option to purchase power once the plants come online.
The deal marks a notable private-sector endorsement of advanced nuclear technology, which proponents argue is essential to supply reliable, zero-emissions electricity as demand surges from cloud computing, AI, and electrification.
“Innovative partnerships like this are necessary to mobilize the capital required to build new nuclear projects, which are critical to deliver safe, affordable and clean baseload power and help companies advance their long-term net zero goals,” said Elementl Power Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chris Colbert. “We look forward to working with Google to execute these projects and bring safe, carbon-free, baseload electricity to the grid.”
Google has pledged to power all its operations with net-zero emissions energy on a 24/7 basis by 2030. In a blog post, the company said the Elementl agreement will help it meet that goal while also strengthening regional power grids.
The three sites are still in early development, and no reactor design has been publicly announced. Elementl, which describes itself as a “technology agnostic advanced nuclear project developer,” is evaluating potential vendors, engineering and construction partners, and locations for fast-tracked deployment. The company’s stated goal is to bring significant new nuclear capacity online by 2035.
Ryan Mills, Co-Founder and President of Elementl Power said in a statement, “My partners and I launched Elementl Power in 2022 to solve a critical industry need and serve as a catalyst for private capital formation in advanced nuclear projects. This partnership with Google represents a significant milestone in Elementl Power’s growth trajectory.”
In March, Google joined Amazon, Meta, and other major corporations in pledging support for tripling global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 as a way to provide around-the-clock clean energy for the world’s growing energy demands.
