Pioneering a Data Centre Partnership with Advanced Nuclear Technologies
Data usage and global internet traffic have experienced exponential growth since the mid-2000s, and the trend is expected to continue, and even accelerate due to the wide adoption of Artificial Intelligence. The total global energy demand for data centres now exceeds the consumption of most economies, and they emit around 2% to 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
To meet this demand, data centre planners must consider not only the affordability aspects but also sustainability, security of supply and social impact.
Small Modular Reactors can help solve this energy quadrilemma by supplying cost-effective clean and reliable energy while creating skilled jobs for the local communities. Compared to large nuclear reactors, SMRs’ reduced footprint and enhanced safety features make co-location with data centres possible, which in turn ensures power matching and supply security.
Addressing the exponential growth of data centres requires a paradigm shift and a new form of energy partnership incorporating SMRs within decarbonised energy hubs.
This approach could foster a long-term programme of infrastructure building, and possibly Hydrogen fuel supply, around future data processing campuses.
