Author: Kiersten Sundell
Did you hear that Microsoft and OpenAI want to use nuclear reactors to power their artificial intelligence servers?
As it turns out, online platforms like these consume a LOT of energy. In July of 2023, the EPA reported that in a typical year, Microsoft uses about 10,684 gigawatt hours of electricity. This is more than the annual energy use of Guatemala, and it doesn’t even account for brand-new AI technologies that have recently hit the internet.
Currently, Microsoft “runs” on a mix of small-hydro, solar, and wind. It should be noted that this is basically an accounting trick, and is achieved through the purchase of renewable energy credits. They definitely don’t have a wind or solar farm onsite.
Although Microsoft doesn’t have energy shortage problems yet, AI will likely soon take over the world, resulting in endless virtual expansion. The current supply is nowhere near sufficient, and they will need a lot more energy really soon.
Instead of buying more wind and solar credits from faraway companies that do nothing to reduce local air pollution, it looks like Microsoft is betting on advanced nuclear reactors to be the answer. In recent months, Microsoft has expressed that nuclear power is essential for combating the enormous greenhouse gas emissions produced by the fossil fuel sector.
On September 25, 2023, Microsoft listed a first-of-a-kind job for a highly experienced nuclear engineer, capable of “leading project initiatives for all aspects of nuclear energy infrastructure,” and rolling out a plan for new small modular reactors (SMRs). The end goal of this initiative is to run the data centers that power the Microsoft Cloud and AI workloads with an SMR rather than relying on the grid. This would not only be an expansion of clean energy, but an expansion of LOCAL clean energy that will help to reduce the global stigma around nuclear energy.
Multi-billion dollar corporations pairing with nuclear visionaries to stop carbon release? We’re here for it. Check out the full video by visiting our TikTok page.
