Google has signed a landmark agreement with nuclear technology company Kairos Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to power its data centers in Alabama and Tennessee with advanced nuclear energy.

Under the deal, TVA will purchase electricity generated by Kairos Power’s upcoming Hermes 2 reactor in Tennessee and deliver it to Google’s regional data centers. The Hermes 2 facility is expected to begin operations in 2030 and will increase its capacity from 28 MW to 50 MW through a single reactor, scaling up to meet Google’s growing energy demands.

The partnership builds on a broader agreement signed in 2024 between Google and Kairos Power, which aims to bring 500 MW of advanced nuclear capacity online by 2035. According to Kairos Power CEO and Co-Founder Mike Laufer, the deal represents a critical milestone in making advanced nuclear energy commercially competitive.

Notably, the initiative marks the first time a U.S. utility has signed a power purchase agreement for “generation IV” nuclear power, widely regarded as among the safest and most sustainable nuclear technologies in development. Beyond decarbonization, the companies highlighted the project’s role in fostering local economic growth and reinforcing U.S. leadership in nuclear innovation.

The agreement comes as Google faces continued scrutiny over its environmental footprint. While the company reported a 12% decline in data center emissions in 2024, its overall carbon footprint has grown, largely due to a 20% rise in Scope 3 supply chain emissions.

By turning to nuclear energy, Google is seeking to boost the efficiency and sustainability of its data centers, an increasingly critical step as energy demands surge with booming technologies such as generative AI.

Source:

https://www.esgtoday.com/california-climate-reporting-law-survives-court-challenge/

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/google-announces-tennessee-site-small-modular-nuclear-reactor-2025-08-18/