Small modular reactors for data centres: construction permits, high costs and slipping timelines
According to a Nature report, Fortune and other analyses, data centres are increasingly looking to small modular reactors (SMRs) as a reliable, low-carbon power source, and Google has signed a deal with a startup. Experts say the technology may not arrive in time and that its cost remains well above wind and solar.
Who is affected and how
- energy specialist
- SMRs will not solve the data centre power shortfall in the short term, so planning should also count on gas and the grid.
- supplier
- Permitting progress on reactor programmes determines the realistic order timing for nuclear components.
Sources
- Nature's New Nuclear Report Reveals Why Small Reactors Could Power AI Data Centers, But Big Hurdles Remain | FrontierNews.aifrontiernews.ai · Aug 31, 2026
- Small nuclear reactors could be America’s next power movecsmonitor.com · Sep 2, 2026
- Small Modular Reactors: What They Really Cost in 2026igrownews.com · Sep 1, 2026
- Small Modular Reactors Turn Data Center Operators Into Owners Of Their Own Generationthedatawire.com · Sep 1, 2026
- Data centers are betting billions on small nuclear reactors, but experts say the technology may not arrive in time and costs remain far above wind and solarenergiesmedia.com · Sep 3, 2026
- Advanced nuclear has what AI data centers need. Can it arrive in time?electronics360 · Sep 5, 2026
- Google signs deal with startup to build small nuclear reactors to power AI | Al Jazeera Mirroraljazeeranews-3fuh52rgrl.edgeone.app · Aug 31, 2026
- AI Is Hungry For Power, Is Nuclear The Answer? - TechRoundtechround.co.uk · Aug 31, 2026
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