Summary:
- Oklo, backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, will supply up to 12 gigawatts of nuclear power to Switch Inc.’s data centers.
- Small modular reactors (SMRs) are a groundbreaking nuclear technology designed to be cheaper and faster to build.
- This deal highlights how data centers’ energy demands are shaping the future of nuclear power.
When you think of nuclear power, images of towering cooling stacks and sprawling facilities might come to mind. But Oklo, a cutting-edge company backed by tech billionaire Sam Altman, is flipping the script with its small modular reactors (SMRs)—compact, efficient, and ready to power the tech of tomorrow. Their latest deal? Supplying up to 12 gigawatts of electricity to Switch Inc., a major data center operator, through 2044. That’s enough power to light up millions of homes or, in this case, keep countless servers buzzing.
Here’s why this partnership is a game-changer: data centers, the backbone of our digital lives, are hungry. They consume enormous amounts of electricity to keep AI systems, cloud storage, and video streaming platforms online 24/7. With demand expected to surge 16% over the next five years, finding reliable, clean energy is a top priority. Nuclear fits the bill perfectly. Unlike wind or solar, it provides constant power, and unlike fossil fuels, it doesn’t emit carbon dioxide. As Oklo CEO Jacob DeWitte puts it, “Data centers are actually kind of perfect for new nuclear.”
At the heart of this innovation are SMRs—tiny but mighty reactors designed to be built in factories and quickly assembled on-site. They promise to slash the time and cost of nuclear plant construction, which has historically been a major hurdle. Oklo is aiming to have its first reactor running by 2027, setting the stage for a new era of decentralized, nuclear-powered grids. If they succeed, their model could be replicated far beyond data centers, powering hospitals, industrial plants, or even remote communities.
The stakes, however, are high. No SMRs are in service yet in the U.S., and skeptics point to untested designs and regulatory hurdles. But with major players like Amazon and Meta also signing on for nuclear deals, it’s clear the tech world is betting big on splitting atoms. If Oklo and others can deliver, it won’t just be a win for data centers—it could redefine how we power our increasingly electrified world.
The lesson? The energy future isn’t just about solar panels and wind turbines; it’s about thinking outside the box (or inside a compact nuclear reactor). Data centers, AI, and the digital tools shaping our lives are demanding more energy than ever, and Oklo’s SMRs might just be the perfect solution to keep the lights—and the servers—on.
