Amazon, Google & Meta: Is Nuclear the Low-Carbon Solution?

Global electricity demand is surging, set to rise at a rate of around 4% annually according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In sectors where reliability is imperative, current battery technology is struggling to handle the variable outputs from renewable resources such as wind and solar.

Nuclear power could be the answer, according to Amazon, Google, Meta and Dow among other businesses.

A cross-industry coalition has come together under the guidance of the World Nuclear Association.

These companies have committed to a pledge that aims to at least triple global nuclear capacity by the year 2050.

“The unprecedented support announced today by some of the world’s most influential companies to at least triple global nuclear capacity by 2050 sends a clear signal to accelerate policy, finance and regulatory changes that enable the rapid expansion of nuclear power," said Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General of the World Nuclear Association.

“The global shift towards more nuclear highlights this is the only way we’ll deliver the abundant firm clean energy required to power growth and innovation in technology, a host of other industries and the entire economy.”

Why are tech companies backing nuclear?

Data centres are the backbone of many modern technologies, from artificial intelligence to emails. 

These facilities require continuous power and controlled environments to function effectively.

Currently, data centres consume about 1% of the world's total energy output, but the IEA predicts this could rise by 300% by 2026.

Nuclear power, known for its ability to deliver continuous, low-carbon power, fits the bill for these 24/7 power needs.

"We are proud to sign a pledge in support of tripling nuclear capacity by 2050, as nuclear power will be pivotal in building a reliable, secure and sustainable energy future," says Lucia Tian, Head of Clean Energy & Decarbonisation Technologies at Google.

“Google will continue to work alongside our partners to accelerate the commercialisation of advanced nuclear technologies that can provide the around-the-clock clean energy necessary to meet growing electricity demand around the world." 

Urvi Parekh, Head of Global Energy at Meta, said: “As global economies expand, the need for a reliable, clean and resilient energy supply is paramount. Nuclear energy, with its ability to provide continuous power, can help meet this rising demand.

“We’re excited to join alongside this multi-organisational effort with the Tripling Nuclear Pledge to reiterate our commitment to nuclear energy.”

Brandon Oyer, Head of Americas Energy and Water at Amazon Web Services, said: “Accelerating nuclear energy development will be critical to strengthening our nation’s security, meeting future energy demands and addressing climate change. 

“Amazon supports the World Nuclear Association’s pledge, and is proud to have invested more than US$1bn over the last year in nuclear energy projects and technologies, which is part of our broader Climate Pledge commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040.”

Nuclear power's impact across sectors

It’s not just the tech industry that stands to benefit from nuclear power.

As global economies grow, various sectors are finding themselves in need of more energy.

From heavy manufacturing equipment to the intricate designs of quantum computing chips, energy remains a central component of industrial growth.

Edward Stones, Business Vice President for Dow Energy & Climate, said: “Energy is the lifeblood of global manufacturing and therefore investing and expanding access to clean, reliable, cost-competitive nuclear energy is critical to industrial progress. 

“Dow considers nuclear energy, especially the promising technology of advanced small modular nuclear, to be a long-term competitive source of safe, firm and clean energy.”

Laurent Odeh, Chief Commercial Officer at Urenco, said: “It will be a lot harder to address environmental concerns while facilitating economic development in the world without the reliable, 24/7 baseload power nuclear energy provides. 

“This support from large energy users is another sign for governments to enable new nuclear projects so we can accelerate construction and meet the energy needs of both industry and the public.”

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