Atoms for Algorithms: The Rise of SMRs and Microreactors

Seriennavigation: Teil 1 von 6 in Das Handbuch zur KI-Energieinfrastruktur

Atoms for Algorithms: Why AI Needs Small Modular Reactors

For decades, industrial power was a simple matter of connecting to a local utility. However, the current demand for high-performance artificial intelligence has changed the math. A single AI-focused data center can consume as much electricity as a small city, and this power must be available every second of every day.

Traditional renewable sources like solar and wind are valuable but variable. To maintain the uptime required for global digital services, energy must be constant. This is known as baseload power. Nuclear energy is the only carbon-free source capable of providing this level of consistency at scale.

The Transition to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

The primary challenge with traditional nuclear power is the scale. Building a massive reactor takes over a decade and requires billions in upfront capital. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) solve this by shrinking the technology.

SMRs are roughly one-third the size of traditional reactors. Because they are modular, they can be manufactured in a controlled factory environment and shipped to a site by truck or rail. For an investor, this shifts nuclear power from a mega-project with high risk to a repeatable product with predictable costs.

The Leaders in SMR Innovation: NuScale Power

NuScale is a primary player in the American SMR landscape. Their design was the first to receive certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. By utilizing a simplified passive safety system, NuScale aims to provide dedicated power modules that can be added to a site as a data center expands.

The Institutional Pivot: Oklo Inc.

Oklo focuses on microreactors, which are even smaller than standard SMRs. Backed by significant interest from the technology sector, Oklo’s business model involves selling energy-as-a-service. Instead of a tech company building its own reactor, it simply signs a contract with Oklo to buy the power generated by a micro-unit located nearby.

The Return of Big Nuclear: Constellation Energy

While new designs grab headlines, the existing nuclear fleet is being revitalized to meet AI demand. Constellation Energy, the largest operator of nuclear plants in the United States, recently made waves by announcing the restart of retired units specifically to feed the energy-hungry campuses of global technology firms.

The Economic Mandate: Decarbonization and Density

The shift to nuclear is not just about reliability; it is about meeting environmental goals. Most major technology firms have committed to becoming carbon-neutral. Because nuclear energy produces zero carbon emissions during operation, it allows these companies to scale their AI capabilities without increasing their environmental footprint.

The Challenge: Regulatory Speed

The primary hurdle for the SMR market is the speed of government approval. While the technology is proven, the regulatory framework for modular deployment is still being refined. The companies that can navigate this bureaucracy most efficiently will likely be the ones to dominate the first wave of deployment.

To understand how this power is moved from the reactor to the machine, see Part 2: The Grid Evolution & Smart Infrastructure.

Fazit

The nuclear renaissance is no longer a speculative idea; it is a physical necessity of the intelligence age. As SMRs move from design to deployment, they will provide the essential foundation for the next generation of global computing.