- Google signs landmark deal with TVA and Kairos Power for advanced nuclear energy.
- Hermes 2 reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee will provide 50 MW of clean power starting in 2030.
- Project seen as a catalyst for U.S. nuclear innovation and global energy transition.
A First for Advanced Nuclear
Google has signed the first U.S. deal to purchase electricity from an advanced nuclear reactor, partnering with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Kairos Power to bring next-generation nuclear online by 2030.
The Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee will deliver 50 megawatts of power to TVA’s grid, supplying Google’s data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama. The agreement marks the first time a U.S. utility has committed to buying electricity from a GEN IV nuclear reactor.
Sharing Costs and Risks
The collaboration builds on Google’s 2024 partnership with Kairos Power to unlock up to 500 MW of nuclear capacity through multiple deployments of small modular reactors.
“Nuclear is the bedrock of the future of energy security,” said Don Moul, CEO of TVA. “Google stepping in and helping shoulder the burden of the cost and risk for first-of-a-kind nuclear projects not only helps Google get to those solutions, but it keeps us from having to burden our customers with development of that technology. So it’s not just good for Google. It’s good for TVA’s 10 million customers. It’s good for the United States.”
Reviving Oak Ridge’s Nuclear Legacy
Oak Ridge, home to some of the biggest milestones in nuclear history, is expected to benefit from new investment and workforce programs. Partnerships with the University of Tennessee and local institutions will create training pipelines for plant operators and engineers, supporting high-paying jobs in the region.
A Signal to Global Energy Markets
The project underscores U.S. ambitions to reassert leadership in advanced nuclear amid growing competition from China, Canada, and Europe. For Google, it advances the company’s push for 24/7 clean energy to power digital infrastructure. For TVA, it provides new capacity without shifting costs onto customers.
What’s Next
The Oak Ridge project is only the beginning. Google and Kairos Power have set a longer-term goal of deploying up to 500 MW of advanced nuclear capacity across the U.S. grid. If successful, the model could be replicated in other regions where data center demand is driving power consumption to new highs.
For policymakers, utilities, and investors, the initiative offers a template: a shared-risk model that accelerates the commercialization of advanced nuclear while ensuring customers benefit from reliable, carbon-free electricity.
Related Content: Amazon and Google Lead Tech Shift to Nuclear Energy for Net-Zero Goals
Follow SDG News on LinkedIn
