Luca BertonThe World Economic Forum flags advanced nuclear technologies — especially small modular reactors (SMRs) — as a top emerging technology with rising global momentum. The timing isn't coincidental: AI data centers are creating unprecedented electricity demand, and clean, reliable baseload power is scarce.
Why Nuclear, Why Now
- AI power demand: A single large AI training run can consume as much electricity as a small city. Data center power demand is growing 15-20% annually, with AI workloads as the primary driver.
- Baseload requirement: AI data centers need 24/7 reliable power. Solar and wind are intermittent. Nuclear provides carbon-free baseload electricity.
- Decarbonization commitments: Corporate net-zero pledges require clean energy. Nuclear is the only proven clean energy source that provides reliable baseload at scale.
- Land efficiency: Nuclear power plants produce more energy per square meter than any other energy source. Critical for land-constrained locations.
Small Modular Reactors
SMR Advantages
- Modular construction: Factory-built modules shipped to site and assembled. Faster construction, lower cost, more predictable delivery than traditional nuclear.
- Scalable: Start with one module (50-300 MW), add modules as demand grows. Matches the incremental growth pattern of data center expansion.
- Passive safety: Advanced designs use passive cooling that doesn't require external power or human intervention in emergencies
- Smaller footprint: Can be sited near data centers, reducing transmission losses and grid dependency
- Lower upfront capital: Smaller individual investment compared to traditional large nuclear plants
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- Microsoft: Restarting Three Mile Island Unit 1 to power AI data centers. 20-year power purchase agreement.
- Amazon: Investing in SMR development for data center power
- Google: Power purchase agreements with nuclear providers for clean baseload electricity
- Oracle: Planning data centers with SMR power sources
Enterprise Relevance
- Data center planning: If you're planning large-scale AI infrastructure, nuclear power is becoming part of the site selection equation
- Power purchase agreements: Nuclear PPAs offer price stability that natural gas and even renewables can't match
- ESG and sustainability: Nuclear power dramatically reduces the carbon footprint of AI operations
- Energy independence: On-site or near-site nuclear reduces dependency on grid infrastructure and protects against energy price volatility
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- Regulatory approval: SMR designs are in various stages of regulatory review. NuScale has NRC approval in the US. European approvals are progressing.
- First commercial deployments: Expected 2028-2030 for leading SMR designs
- Public perception: Nuclear energy faces public opposition despite strong safety records. Community engagement is essential.
- Waste management: Advanced reactors produce less waste than traditional designs, but long-term waste storage remains an unsolved policy challenge
- Cost uncertainty: First-of-a-kind SMR costs are uncertain. Costs are expected to decrease with manufacturing scale, but the learning curve hasn't been proven yet.
advanced nuclear
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small modular reactors
2026 trends
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