Just a few years ago, nuclear power plant site selection wasn’t on the radar for many developers. Now, however, many data center developers might be considering this very topic. Fortunately, Vista has a range of site selection tools that can provide data and analytics to identify the ideal locations for both.
But first, let’s address the obvious question: Why would a data center developer be considering nuclear power plant site selection?
New developments in artificial intelligence and nuclear power are making the futures of both industries likely to be increasingly intertwined.
Consider the paradox faced by leaders in the AI industry. The companies aiming to dominate that market are those that already have strong footholds in the tech industry, such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon. These companies have also been among the most ambitious in making green pledges, setting ambitious goals for eliminating their carbon footprint.
AI presents a financial boon but it could also create an ecological boondoggle, which would counteract these goals. According to a peer-reviewed analysis published in Joule, data centers powering AI development could require 85.4 terawatt hours annually by 2027, approximately the total energy consumption of Chile.
That’s a lot. And, if these companies want to avoid carbon emissions, they’re going to need a lot of green generation to source it from.
Nearly every major tech firm has taken a fresh, pragmatic look at the nuclear option. The efficiency and consistency with which it can create energy (while releasing next to zero carbon) makes nuclear a tempting option, especially when weighed against the amount of space that solar or wind installations require.
How tempting? Even notorious nuclear meltdown sites are back on the table. Microsoft is spending $1.8 billion to restore the Three Mile Island nuclear plant and will then buy 100% of the power it generates for at least 20 years.
More promising, however, is the promise of small modular reactors (SMRs), which will be quicker to construct and bring online than traditional nuclear reactors. Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, has backed an SMR startup and aspires to have functioning models by 2030 to fuel data centers. Oracle has announced plans to power a gigawatt’s worth of data servers with three SMRs.
The point is that new data server projects are quickly becoming new power generation projects and Vista offers tools to help with both.
Our Data Center Site Selection Tool provides all the data and analytics needed for a data center project, including internet connectivity, environmental hazard data and – yes – the energy supply options that are currently in place.
But if you want to take it a step further and supply your own energy source, our Vista View tool offers you all the essential layers for identifying a location ripe for a new SMR, such as a ready source of water for cooling, population density and transportation networks to move materials.
The development landscape of the United States continues to evolve at every level and Vista Site Selection is working constantly to provide the data, analytics and know-how to find the ideal sites for our customers’ evolving needs. Reach out and let us know what the future looks like for you.
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