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**Nuclear Energy Gains Ground as Power Solution for Data Centers**
Not long ago, nuclear energy was seen with skepticism due to high-profile accidents at Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi. These events sparked widespread concern about the safety and viability of nuclear power.
However, the accelerating demand for energy amid rising data center construction across the United States is prompting a reassessment. With growing pressure on the current power grid, nuclear energy is being reconsidered as a clean, reliable, and scalable solution to meet the massive energy needs of data centers, according to a recent Cushman & Wakefield report.
“The growing traction for nuclear energy is logical, as its advantages—sustainability, scalability, reliability, and efficiency—align with the priorities of the world’s largest data center operators,” the report noted.
To support this momentum, the U.S. government has introduced executive orders aimed at expediting nuclear energy development. These include faster reactor licensing, streamlined testing procedures, and increased domestic fuel production. The administration has set ambitious goals, including the construction of ten large reactors by 2030, and a projected national nuclear capacity of 300 gigawatts by 2050.
This renewed governmental backing has attracted significant investment from private equity, venture capital, as well as key players in the nuclear, technology, and data center industries.
Notable collaborations include:
– Constellation Energy and Microsoft are working to restart Unit 1 at the former Three Mile Island site by 2027. This initiative will add over 800 megawatts to the electrical grid.
– Google is partnering with Kairos Power, which will design, build, and operate reactor plants intended to power Google’s data centers. The goal is to reach a capacity of 500 megawatts by 2035.
– Amazon is investing $500 million in X-energy, a nuclear energy company. Together with Central Washington’s Energy Northwest, they plan to construct a four-unit, 320 megawatt plant, with future expansion plans for up to 12 units and 960 megawatts.
According to Cushman & Wakefield, this positive shift in attitude toward nuclear energy presents a unique opportunity for the commercial real estate sector to play a vital role in the nuclear renaissance and the infrastructure needed to support it.
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