Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon, is investing heavily in nuclear energy as part of its commitment to clean energy and net-zero carbon emissions. AWS has signed an agreement with Dominion Energy, Virginia’s utility provider, to explore the development of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) near Dominion’s North Anna nuclear power station. This initiative is driven by the increasing demand for clean energy to power AWS’s expanding services, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI).
AWS’s $500 Million Nuclear Power Investment
AWS is set to invest over $500 million into three nuclear energy projects across Virginia and Washington state. The company’s growing data center operations require vast amounts of clean energy, and nuclear power has emerged as a critical solution. AWS’s need for energy has surged, driven by the rise of generative AI, and nuclear energy’s reliability makes it a key part of Amazon’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint.
Small Modular Reactors: A Key Technology for AWS’s Future
SMRs are an advanced form of nuclear reactors that have a smaller footprint and faster construction times than traditional reactors. This makes them ideal for providing the energy needed to power AWS’s data centers. AWS’s SMR project with Dominion Energy is expected to generate 300 megawatts of power for the Virginia region, with the reactors feeding power directly into the grid. This will benefit both AWS’s operations and other power consumers in the area.
AWS’s CEO, Matthew Garman, explained that traditional renewable energy sources like wind and solar won’t be sufficient to meet the future power demands of AWS’s data centers. Nuclear energy offers a reliable, scalable solution, and SMRs represent the next generation of safe, efficient nuclear technology.
Virginia: The Hub of Data Centers and Nuclear Innovation
Virginia is home to nearly half of all U.S. data centers, with much of the activity concentrated in Loudoun County’s “Data Center Alley.” Dominion Energy currently serves around 3,500 megawatts from 452 data centers in Virginia. The demand for energy in the state is expected to increase by 85% in the next 15 years, largely driven by AI-driven data centers. AWS’s SMR project will help meet this growing demand, positioning Virginia as a hub of nuclear innovation.
AWS Expands Nuclear Power Investments in Washington State
In addition to its partnership with Dominion Energy, AWS has also signed an agreement with Energy Northwest, a consortium of public utilities, to develop SMRs in Washington state. AWS will have the option to purchase electricity from the first four reactors developed under this agreement. These SMRs will help power AWS’s operations in the region, further supporting Amazon’s clean energy goals.
AWS’s nuclear energy investments are backed by its Climate Pledge Fund, a $500 million corporate venture fund that focuses on early-stage sustainability companies. The fund has invested in X-energy, a Maryland-based SMR developer that will provide the technology for the new reactors.
U.S. Government Support for Nuclear Energy
AWS’s nuclear power initiatives align with the Biden administration’s push for clean energy production. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently announced $900 million in new funding to support the deployment of SMRs across the country. AWS’s investment in nuclear energy is seen as a step toward building a sustainable energy future for the tech industry.
AWS’s latest nuclear energy investments also follow a previous agreement to purchase nuclear power from Talen Energy’s Susquehanna Steam Electric Station in Pennsylvania. These efforts underscore Amazon’s commitment to using clean, reliable energy sources to power its cloud infrastructure and data centers.
