Small modular reactors could revolutionize AI and cryptocurrency mining
AI Roundup
According to Cointelegraph, a new paradigm in nuclear power production could have a significant impact on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining, although it requires a substantial upfront investment in relatively unproven technologies.
The United States is set to develop and deploy its first commercial small modular reactor (SMR). These reactors take up much less infrastructure compared to traditional fission reactor plants and are considered much safer. SMRs can be manufactured in a factory and shipped to a customer’s location, have the capacity to produce up to 300 megawatts of power, and can potentially be built virtually anywhere.
The arrival of SMRs could be a game-changer for large organizations, such as data centers, AI training centers, and cryptocurrency mining centers. Many large mining companies are exploring nuclear power as a safe and clean alternative to traditional energy infrastructure. However, high upfront costs of construction and availability have been major hurdles. SMRs address some of these issues by being easier to develop, requiring less maintenance and operating personnel, and being more environmentally friendly. Despite these advantages, they still require significant upfront investment.
Kairos Power, a US-based nuclear engineering company, recently signed a long-term agreement with Google to develop and operate the company’s first SMR in 2030, with further deployments planned through 2035. Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director of energy and climate, praised the agreement as a significant step toward clean energy, with the goal of adding 500 MW of new carbon-free power 24/7.
