The Atomic Age: Meta Secures 6.6 GW of Nuclear Power to Fuel its AI Future

Key Findings

• Meta has secured up to 6.6 GW of nuclear power through landmark deals with Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo to fuel its growing AI infrastructure and the "Prometheus" supercomputing cluster in Ohio.

• The collaboration with TerraPower involves financing the construction of two sodium-cooled reactors utilizing proprietary "Natrium" technology, providing 690 MW initially, with plans to expand to 2.1 GW by 2035.

• Meta has also entered an agreement with Oklo, a startup backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to activate 1.2 GW of nuclear power by 2030 through a multi-reactor deployment in Ohio.

• Meta has secured a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Vistra, procuring over 2.1 GW from their Ohio facilities while subsidizing expansion projects in Ohio and Pennsylvania, adding 433 MW by the early 2030s.

• This comprehensive strategy underscores Silicon Valley's pivotal shift toward nuclear energy as the definitive solution for the AI energy crisis, providing the steady, 24-hour baseload power required for AI training and inference.

Background

As the architectural complexity and parameter counts of AI models expand exponentially, the colossal power consumption of the underlying data centers has emerged as the preeminent challenge for technology titans. Following Microsoft's landmark initiative to resurrect the Three Mile Island nuclear facility, Meta has now formally announced strategic accords with three energy entities—Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo—to secure up to 6.6 GW of nuclear-generated electricity over the next decade.

Meta's Nuclear Partnerships

TerraPower

Meta's collaboration with TerraPower involves financing the construction of two sodium-cooled reactors utilizing proprietary "Natrium" technology. Anticipated to become operational as early as 2032, this project will initially contribute 690 MW of power, with expansion rights designed to escalate total output to 2.1 GW via six additional reactors by 2035.

Oklo

Simultaneously, Meta has entered an agreement with Oklo—a firm notably backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who retains a 4% stake. Meta intends to activate its inaugural Oklo-sourced nuclear power by 2030, targeting an aggregate capacity of 1.2 GW through a multi-reactor deployment in Ohio, which is expected to catalyze regional economic growth and employment.

Vistra

Beyond fostering nascent technologies, Meta has solidified a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Vistra, emphasizing the longevity and capacity enhancement of existing assets. Meta will procure over 2.1 GW from Vistra's Ohio facilities while subsidizing expansion projects there and in Pennsylvania, slated to yield an additional 433 MW by the early 2030s.

Powering the AI Future

This comprehensive maneuver underscores a decisive pivot among Silicon Valley firms toward nuclear energy as the definitive panacea for the AI energy crisis. The rigorous computational demands of AI training and inference require a steadfast, 24-hour baseload power supply—a requirement that intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar struggle to satisfy. Consequently, following Meta's prior engagement with Constellation Energy and Microsoft's exclusive claim to Three Mile Island's output, it has become manifest that in an era where computational prowess equates to national strength, the mastery of stable, carbon-neutral energy is the prerequisite for enduring dominance in the AI theatre.

Sources

• https://securityonline.info/the-atomic-engine-meta-secures-6-6-gw-of-nuclear-power-to-fuel-its-ai-future/

• https://x.com/the_yellow_fall/status/2009932122190914004

• https://www.ohiotechnews.com/meta-ohio-nuclear-power-american-ai-leadership/