AWS Partners for 5GW Nuclear Power to Fuel AI Data Centers by 2039
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a significant partnership to bring over five gigawatts of new nuclear energy to the US. This collaboration, involving X-energy and other key players, aims to power AWS's AI data centers and bolster American leadership in AI and nuclear development.
The partnership, involving X-energy as the technology provider, aims to deploy X-energy's fourth-generation reactor. Currently, X-energy is progressing with its initial Xe-100 implementation at Dow's UCC Seadrift Operations manufacturing site, supported by the US Department of Energy. The companies involved in the Memorandum of Understanding include utility companies, reactor designers, fuel fabricators, and regulatory bodies, all working together to accelerate deployment and commercialization efforts.
The agreement covers reactor engineering design, construction strategy, supply chain development, investment plans, long-term operations, and exploring worldwide AI-nuclear deployment opportunities. The deployment target is set for 2039, with the specific aim of powering AWS's AI data centers. The SMR model has an expected generation capacity equivalent to 64 units of X-energy's 80MW SMR.
X-energy CEO J Clay Sell emphasized the importance of collaboration between the US and South Korea in preserving American leadership in the AI race and surpassing China in nuclear development. The US and South Korea aim to mobilise up to $50bn from public and private sources to bolster nuclear energy's future in the US as part of a broader trade agreement. The initiative aims to meet the increasing power demands of data centers and AI operations.
The partnership between Amazon Web Services, X-energy, and other key players marks a significant step towards meeting the growing energy demands of AI data centers. With a deployment target of 2039 and substantial investment plans, this collaboration aims to strengthen the US's position in the AI race and nuclear development, while also exploring global opportunities.
