Meta Secures Nuclear Power for AI Data Centers

Meta’s Nuclear Power Agreements

On Friday, Meta announced a major step towards powering its artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, securing contracts with three nuclear power companies—TerraPower, Oklo, and Vistra. Together, these agreements are set to provide enough energy to power approximately 5 million homes, underpinning Meta’s extensive Prometheus AI data center project currently under construction in New Albany, Ohio.

Details of the Contracts

Meta’s Prometheus will feature a 1-gigawatt cluster encompassing several data center buildings and is expected to be operational this year. While the financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed, Meta’s collaboration with TerraPower will bolster the nuclear supply chain by supporting the development of two new Natrium units, which can produce up to 690 megawatts of firm power by 2032.

Additionally, Meta will secure energy rights from up to six Natrium units, potentially increasing output to 2.1 gigawatts by 2035. Furthermore, it plans to obtain over 2.1 gigawatts from two operational Vistra nuclear plants in Ohio, complemented by expansions at these facilities and a third plant in Pennsylvania. Notably, all generated electricity will still serve the broader mid-Atlantic grid for local customers.

Challenges in the Mid-Atlantic Grid

Amid rising demands on the mid-Atlantic grid, which encompasses Ohio and Pennsylvania, tech firms have faced pressure to enhance electricity supplies for new data centers. As energy systems expert Jesse Jenkins from Princeton University highlighted, without adequate new power sources for Prometheus, electricity rates in the region may spike further. Already, local residents bear higher electricity costs to accommodate both current and planned data centers.

Future Developments

The agreement with Oklo, which has backing from influential investors, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, aims to establish a 1.2-gigawatt power campus in Pike County, Ohio, specifically designed to support Meta’s growing data center demands in the area. These recent nuclear power contracts arrive shortly after Meta’s announcement in June regarding a 20-year deal with Constellation Energy, showcasing a significant commitment to sustainable energy solutions for its operations.