Meta's Ambitious Plan for Nuclear Power

Meta announced on Tuesday that it is seeking proposals from nuclear power developers to help meet its artificial intelligence and environmental goals. This move positions Meta as the latest big tech company to take interest in atomic power amid an expected boom in electricity demand.

The company aims to add 1 to 4 gigawatts of new U.S. nuclear generation capacity starting in the early 2030s. A typical U.S. nuclear plant has a capacity of about 1 gigawatt. "At Meta, we believe nuclear energy will play a pivotal role in the transition to a cleaner, more reliable, and diversified electric grid," the company stated in a release.

U.S. data center power use is expected to roughly triple between 2023 and 2030, requiring about 47 gigawatts of new generation capacity, according to Goldman Sachs estimates. However, swiftly meeting soaring power demand with nuclear reactors presents challenges, including an overburdened U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, potential uranium fuel supply obstacles, and local opposition.

Meta is seeking developers with expertise in community engagement, development, and permitting. The company will consider either small modular reactors, an emerging part of the business that is not yet commercial, or larger nuclear reactors similar to today's fleet of U.S. nuclear plants. Meta will take submissions from developers until Feb. 7, 2025.

The company opted for the request-for-proposal process due to nuclear energy's capital-intensive nature, longer development time, and more stringent regulatory requirements compared to renewable energy projects like solar and wind. "An RFP process will allow us to approach these projects thoroughly and thoughtfully with these considerations in mind," Meta stated.