| Nuclear power


Medium temp


Low temp


Electricity


An SMR could provide power directly to the grid, as well as the energy needed for steam reforming hydrogen production, district heating, process steam, and other future applications like lithium-ion battery production (acid roasting). Source: Westinghouse Electric


production boomed. Overall output was thought to have dwindled following a series of disasters at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania in 1979 and Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986. Attempts made to reinvigorate the industry in the early 2000s came to an end following the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011. Japan, Germany, UK, USA, and others scheduled the closure of nuclear facilities. But appearances can be deceptive. Worldwide nuclear generated electricity production rose from 1500 TWh in 1987 to around 2500 TWh today. It remains a major force in power production across the globe. And it is about to get much bigger. With net zero goals falling miserably short in most nations, nuclear is seen as a great new low-carbon hope. Hence, the sudden surge of attention.


As well as its value in providing urgently needed power to the grid, AI-based data centres are opening up a new market for nuclear power. Morgan Stanley predicts that generative AI applications like ChatGPT could account for 75% of US data centre megawatts by the end 2025. A similar story is likely to play out in the UK and across Europe. Data centres want power wherever they can get it. Hence, nuclear energy is attracting massive investments from IT giants: Amazon is providing financial backing for the deployment of 5 GW of new X-energy small modular reactor projects by 2039 and has acquired a 1200 acre data centre campus that is directly connected to the 2.5 GW Susquehanna steam electric station (a nuclear plant) in Pennsylvania. An existing 48 MW data centre operating there currently will be expanded to 960 MW.


Microsoft and Constellation Energy plan to invest more than $1.5 billion to recommence operation at the Third Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania by 2028 to power Microsoft AI data centres.


Google is involved with Kairos Power in the development of 500 MW of molten salt nuclear reactors by 2035 to power its data centres. There is a three-pronged approach to the nuclear build out. New-build nuclear plants are in the


works, but it will take many years for any to come to fruition. Decommissioned facilities are seen as a faster route to more power. US plants like Palisades, Duane Arnold, and Three Mile Island (as mentioned) are on the table for restart. There are even facilities that were never completed that could be scheduled for completion. Their advantage is that massive amounts of infrastructure investment already exist at these sites. Nuclear, after all, requires large concrete foundations as well as high-power transmission connections, the purchase of a lot of land, and, generally, the availability of an abundance of water. These elements are already present at many decommissioned sites. Further, a trained workforce can be found in the vicinity. Projects are finding willingness among retired nuclear


engineers and technicians to return to work to help get nuclear plants back online.


SMRs for faster nuclear power SMRs can be seen as the third prong of the nuclear build out. Instead of a few massive nuclear facilities, a large series of SMRs could be located nearer to load sources and used for a wider range of applications. Amazon announced SMR deals with Energy Northwest in Washington state and Dominion Energy in Virginia. Data centre giant Switch of Las Vegas has developed a partnership with nuclear firm Oklo, which could result in 12 GW of nuclear energy between now and 2044. Switch gains PPAs for any resulting power.


“It is important to find the right mix of energy sources to deliver the uninterrupted power


District heating


Electrical grid


Data centres


and other behind-the- meter applications


BWRX-300 in CHP mode, some potential applications. Source: GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy


www.modernpowersystems.com | June 2025 | 15


AP300 SMR


Grid


Capable of 15 MWe per minute load follow


Water production


Hydrogen production


Process heat


District heating & electricity


Thermal energy storage


Warm water


Hot water


Steam Electricity


Solid oxide co-electrolysis/ solid oxide electrolyser


Reverse osmosis


Clean water


Synthesis ammonia Clean Clean H2 hydrogen Carbon- Syngas H2


neutral methanol


Clean fuel production


Carbon-neutral synthetic fuel


+ CO CO2 Direct air capture Air


Process heat


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