Meta turns to nuclear energy to power AI development
The Meta (formerly Facebook) logo marks the entrance of corporate headquarters in Menlo Park, California, on November 9, 2022. (AFP Photo)
Meta announced Tuesday its goal to add 1-4 gigawatts of new nuclear power generation by the early 2030s to support advancements in artificial intelligence.
“Advancing technologies that will build the future of human connection—including the next wave of AI innovation—requires electric grids to expand and embrace new sources of reliable, clean and renewable energy,” Facebook’s parent company stated.
The technology giant is seeking nuclear energy developers with expertise in community engagement, development, permitting and project execution. The company said it believes nuclear energy can provide reliable, clean baseload power for its expanding data center infrastructure and the communities around it.
Considering that a typical U.S. household consumes around 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, a power plant with a capacity of 1 gigawatt could power approximately 876,000 households for one year.
By investing in nuclear energy, the company said it hopes to contribute to a cleaner and diversified electric grid.
“As we look ahead to our next decade of innovation and growth, we are planning for our data center energy needs while simultaneously contributing to a reliable grid,” Meta stated.
