And, an even bigger opportunity for startups? Read on.
Nuclear power has become the “It Girl” of the energy sector. Once feared, it is now becoming arguably the most coveted form of energy. To its credit, nuclear power is a zero-carbon energy source that provides stable, substantial power. Moreover, it is dispatchable—this means that it can adjust its output to match the electricity demand, unlike non-dispatchable power sources like wind and solar. As a result, its fan base is growing, especially as the race to power the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector heats up.
However, nuclear power currently accounts for only 19% of the US’s total energy generation. With just 93 operational reactors—down from 112 in the 1990s—nuclear’s share has waned. That said, experts project a resurgence, estimating that the world will need up to an additional 800 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2050 to meet ambitious green energy goals like net-zero carbon emission. In this article, we look at the comeback story of nuclear power and what’s in store for startups.
Okay, so why is nuclear power having a moment right now?
In what some would call “girlie pop” terms, nuclear power has somewhat left its Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball” era and entered the “Flowers” era. The surge in demand for nuclear energy stems from the rapid expansion of AI technology, which demands far more energy than tech staples like social media and streaming. As companies like OpenAI and Google are pouring resources into in generative AI—the brains behind tools like ChatGPT—they’re also looking for energy solutions to fuel the massive power needs of data centers required to keep these AI models learning and growing.
Considering the way things are shaping up, some AI servers might soon consume over 85 terawatt hours of electricity annually—more than the energy consumption of some smaller countries. With this reality looming, the tech industry is turning to nuclear power to keep the AI boom going.
The startups that are making waves as a result
The best part about big tech companies finding a new toy is it gives startups more room to play. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is a significant player in this arena. He invested a whopping US$375 million in Helion Energy, a nuclear fusion startup. The startup aims to build the world’s first commercial nuclear fusion power plant by 2028 to supply nuclear power to some of its key partners like Microsoft.
Altman is also involved with Oklo, a startup focused on nuclear fission. Oklo is working on small reactors designed to power data centers. These reactors could provide the energy needed by AI companies like OpenAI to maintain their growing infrastructure.
Other tech giants are following suit. Google signed an agreement with the startup Kairos Power to acquire energy from small modular reactors, which are expected to be operational by 2030. Amazon, too, has invested in X-Energy, a startup working on similar small-scale nuclear reactors.
In parallel, Amazon spent US$650 million to develop a data center powered by an existing nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Microsoft has also made investments in the nuclear space, including the partnership with Helion Energy and a deal with Constellation Energy to help revive the Three Mile Island power plant.
While the tech industry embraces nuclear power, it appears that the American public is coming around as well. A 2024 Pew Research survey revealed that 56% of U.S. adults support expanding nuclear power to generate electricity, a number that has remained steady—and quite reaffirming—in recent years.
Nuclear power: All boom and no bust?
Not so much. Nuclear power has its critics and challenges. Radioactive waste remains a thorny issue, with new plants still producing waste that stays hazardous for centuries (we know what happened at Chernobyl). Effective disposal methods are still under development, creating opportunities for startups focused on recycling or minimizing this waste.
Plus, environmental groups like Greenpeace argue that nuclear power is far from ideal. They criticize it for being expensive, slow to build and inherently hazardous. While it doesn’t produce carbon emissions during energy generation, the high costs and long timelines associated with building reactors make it a tough sell compared to renewables like solar and wind.
As experts weigh the pros and cons of nuclear power, only time will reveal if this is indeed nuclear energy’s redemption era.
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Header Image from Unsplash
