The Dominion coal burning energy plant is seen in Saint Paul, Virginia, on Feb. 7, 2023.
Mike Belleme | The Washington Publish | Getty Photos
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Dominion Vitality is speaking with different tech firms about growing small modular nuclear reactors, after the Virginia utility entered into an settlement with Amazon final month to have a look at advancing the next-generation expertise.
“It is very encouraging to see giant energy customers, together with expertise firms, categorical a willingness to take a position, accomplice and collaborate to convey this thrilling base load carbon free expertise into fruition,” Dominion CEO Robert Blue informed buyers on the corporate’s third-quarter earnings name Friday.
Dominion and Amazon have signed a memorandum of understanding to discover growing a small modular reactor close to the utility’s North Anna nuclear station in Louisa County, Virginia. The small reactor would convey 300 megawatts of energy to Virginia.
Virginia is likely one of the most nuclear-friendly states within the nation with sturdy bipartisan help for next-generation nuclear initiatives, Blue stated.
“It isn’t stunning that our giant clients would have an interest as they give thought to us as a superb operator of nuclear, to work collectively on perhaps advancing these sorts of applied sciences,” the CEO informed buyers.
“So we have been speaking with Amazon clearly and others,” the CEO stated.
Tech firms are investing in nuclear energy as they hunt for carbon-free, dependable electrical energy to help the rising power wants of synthetic intelligence knowledge facilities. Dominion serves the most important knowledge heart market on this planet, northern Virginia.
Earlier this 12 months, Amazon purchased an information heart campus from Talen Vitality that shall be powered by the Susquehanna nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Microsoft has signed an settlement to buy energy from Three Mile Island as Constellation Vitality goals to restart the plant in 2028. Alphabet‘s Google agreed final month to buy energy from the startup Kairos Energy, a developer of small modular reactors.
Small modular reactors promise to cut back capital prices and velocity the deployment of nuclear vegetation. They’ve a smaller footprint than giant reactors, making them simpler to website in precept, and promise an easier manufacturing course of.
However the expertise has struggled to succeed in the industrial stage. There isn’t a working small modular reactor within the U.S. proper now.
