One of the largest companies in the electrical sector in the United States, NextEra Energy, announced this Monday (27) that it will reactivate the Duane Arnold Energy Center nuclear plant, in the state of Iowa, to meet the increase in energy demand from Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) projects.
Closed since 2020 after 45 years of operation, the plant is expected to return to operation in 2029. Google signed a 25-year contract to purchase the energy generated, which guaranteed investment in the project. According to an investigation carried out by the Financial Timesthe investment could exceed US$ 1.6 billion.
According to NextEra, the agreement represents a new model of partnership between the technology and clean energy sectors.
FREE TOOL
XP simulator
Find out in 1 minute how much your money can yield
“The partnership serves as a model for the investments needed across the country to expand energy capacity and provide clean, reliable energy, without compromising affordability and creating jobs that will drive the AI-driven economy,” said Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, in a statement.
The technology giant also said it intends to explore new nuclear projects with NextEra, due to the rise in energy consumption caused by AI.
Artificial intelligence and nuclear energy
AI services continue to advance, and consequently there is also a substantial increase in the global demand for electricity.
According to estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA), released in April, data center consumption is expected to double by 2030. Because of this, technology companies have been prioritizing continuous, low-carbon energy sources, which has rekindled interest in the nuclear matrix, according to information from Reuters.
It is worth noting that Microsoft signed a similar contract with Constellation Energy in 2023, which would lead to the reopening of the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania, deactivated after decades of inactivity. According to the FT, the plant is expected to return to operation in 2028.
The newspaper points out that there is a movement towards a “revival of nuclear energy”, after years of decline caused by the Fukushima disaster in 2011 and the rise of shale gas as a cheaper alternative.
Continues after advertising
Experts warn, however, that the return of these plants requires strict safety protocols and environmental regulation, to avoid operational risks and ensure that the resurgence of nuclear energy occurs in a responsible and sustainable way.
