Google has taken a major step toward powering its AI infrastructure with carbon-free energy. The company announced a new partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to purchase electricity from Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 nuclear reactor, now being developed in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

According to Google and TVA, this marks the first-ever agreement by a U.S. utility to buy power from such advanced nuclear technology. Once Hermes 2 begins operating in 2030, its electricity will flow into the regional grid that serves Google’s data centers in Tennessee and Alabama. If successful, the project could jumpstart a new era for nuclear power in the U.S., where the current fleet of decades-old reactors has struggled to compete with cheaper gas, solar, and wind energy.

The Hermes 2 demonstration plant builds on Kairos Power’s first Hermes reactor, which broke ground in 2024 after the company received the first Nuclear Regulatory Commission construction permit for a non-water-cooled reactor in over 50 years.

The announcement also follows news that Google would purchase electricity from multiple small modular reactors designed by Kairos Power. Hermes 2 is the first reactor being developed under that broader agreement.

Instead of water, Kairos’ design uses molten fluoride salt coolant. This approach allows the reactor to run at low pressure, eliminating the need for expensive high-pressure containment structures. By cutting infrastructure costs, the technology is designed to make nuclear power more competitive with gas, solar, and wind.

Proponents believe Kairos’ approach could usher in a resurgence of nuclear energy in the U.S., helping meet surging electricity demand from Big Tech and AI. Hermes 2 is expected to generate 50MW, and by 2035, Google hopes to help Kairos deploy 500MW of new nuclear capacity across the country. For comparison, the nation’s 94 nuclear reactors in 2024 had a combined capacity of 97,000MW, accounting for just under 20% of U.S. electricity generation.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee — where Kairos is building Hermes 2 — has long been central to U.S. nuclear history. Once a hub for the Manhattan Project, where uranium was enriched for the earliest atomic weapons, the area has evolved into a center for nuclear research and innovation.

Google will also receive clean energy attributes from Hermes 2 through TVA. These certificates are essentially credits that represent the environmental benefits of generating electricity without fossil fuels. By matching its energy use with these credits, Google can claim progress toward its clean energy goals, even if the local grid still includes power from gas or coal.

Companies with climate goals, including Google, often buy such attributes to match electricity consumption with carbon-free power. However, researchers have warned that the environmental benefits of these certificates are frequently overestimated.

Despite this, the agreement adds another layer to Google’s clean energy strategy. The company’s carbon emissions rose again last year as it accelerated its AI operations, intensifying the need for new sources of sustainable electricity.

Q: What agreement did Google announce?
A: Google and TVA signed a deal to purchase electricity from Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 nuclear reactor in Tennessee.

Q: Why is this agreement significant?
A: It is the first U.S. utility deal for power from next-generation nuclear technology.

Q: What is unique about Kairos Power’s technology?
A: It uses molten fluoride salt coolant instead of water, allowing low-pressure operation and lower construction costs.

Q: How much power will Hermes 2 generate?
A: The reactor is expected to provide 50MW by 2030, enough to support Google’s data centers in Tennessee and Alabama.

Q: How does this fit into Google’s climate goals?
A: Google will receive clean energy attributes from Hermes 2, but its overall carbon emissions have continued to rise as AI energy demands grow.

Google’s deal with TVA and Kairos Power underscores how the energy landscape is shifting under the weight of AI’s soaring electricity demand. As data centers expand, traditional renewables alone may not scale fast enough — forcing Big Tech companies to look to next-generation nuclear as a reliable, carbon-free solution.

If the Hermes 2 project succeeds, it could mark a turning point for nuclear power in the U.S. Proponents see it as a chance to move past outdated, high-cost reactors and prove that advanced designs can deliver safer, more affordable energy. For Google, it provides not only a pathway to power its growing AI operations but also a chance to push the broader industry toward technologies that match clean energy ambitions with real-world capacity.

While questions remain about the effectiveness of clean energy certificates, the significance of this agreement goes beyond accounting. It represents a high-profile vote of confidence in nuclear energy’s role in a carbon-constrained future.

In choosing Oak Ridge — once a symbol of nuclear’s past — Google is also helping to redefine its future. If projects like Hermes 2 scale, they could reshape how tech companies meet climate goals while powering the next generation of AI. This deal signals that innovation in energy infrastructure is catching up to innovation in AI — and the two may advance together.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.