“他们愿意承担更多的早期财务风险，”突破研究所核能创新主管 Adam Stein 表示。“公用事业公司跟不上科技公司的需求。”$Meta Platforms (META.US)$ Seeking up to 4 gigawatts of new nuclear energy to find a reliable source of electrical utilities for its datacenter.
According to a statement on Tuesday, Meta has requested developers to submit proposals to provide reactor capacities ranging from 1 gigawatt to 4 gigawatts beginning in the early 2030s. Commercial nuclear reactors can generate approximately 1 gigawatt of electrical power, enough to meet the electricity needs of 0.75 million ordinary households.
Meta is ramping up the development of clean energy to meet its huge electrical power demands for its ambitions in artificial intelligence. Like other technology giants Amazon and Alphabet, the company is now also seeking an attractive but challenging energy source - nuclear energy. Reactors are expected to provide clean energy around the clock, but due to high costs and long construction times, electrical utilities companies are not very interested in building reactors. Well-funded technology companies may be able to accelerate the construction of the next wave of nuclear power plants.
"They are willing to take on more early financial risks," said Adam Stein, Director of Nuclear Energy Innovation at the Breakthrough Institute. "Utilities are unable to keep up with the demands of technology companies."
Meta stated that it will consider both large traditional reactors and small modular designs, which may have faster deployment speeds and lower costs, but have not been tested yet.
Previously, Alphabet and Amazon announced investments in companies developing advanced reactor technologies. Microsoft has agreed to purchase power from the reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, to be restarted by Constellation Energy Corp.
Although there is almost no nuclear power construction activity in the United States at present, Stein said that it is feasible for Meta to achieve the goal of nuclear power in the next decade.
"There are definitely some candidates who may be ready in the early 2030s," he said. "If they can start as soon as possible."
编辑/danial