Meta Partners with Three Nuclear Firms to Secure Over 6 GW of Power
Meta has formed three partnerships for nuclear power, enhancing energy supply for its data centers as demand rises.
The startups, Oklo and TerraPower, are planning to build many small modular reactors (SMR) for Meta. At the same time, Vistra will provide power from its existing power plants. Tech companies like Meta want nuclear power for its reliable and steady electricity. This is very important as they expand their services.
Existing reactors are usually the cheapest way to get electricity, but they are not enough for everyone. This is why Meta and other companies are looking at SMR startups. Oklo and TerraPower think that by making many small reactors, they can lower costs by making them in large numbers. Meta’s contracts could help prove if this idea works.
Meta asked for partners in December 2024 to help add more power by the early 2030s. They wanted 1 to 4 gigawatts of new capacity. A lot of this power will come through the PJM grid, which supplies 13 states and has many data centers already.
The 20-year deal with Vistra is the most urgent for Meta. They will buy 2.1 gigawatts from two current nuclear plants in Ohio. Vistra will also add more capacity to these plants, making an extra 433 megawatts by the early 2030s.
Meta will also get 1.2 gigawatts from Oklo. If all goes well, Oklo plans to start sending power by 2030. They need to build many small Aurora Powerhouse reactors in Ohio to meet Meta’s needs.
Another startup, TerraPower, co-founded by Bill Gates, hopes to supply electricity by 2032. Their reactor uses molten sodium to transfer energy and can store extra energy when demand is low. This reactor will produce 345 megawatts, plus storage systems for an additional 100 to 500 megawatts.
Meta has the option to buy more energy from TerraPower in the future. The costs for energy from Vistra will be lower since they come from existing reactors. However, costs for the new SMRs are still uncertain. TerraPower hopes to make energy for $50 to $60 per megawatt-hour, while Oklo aims for $80 to $130.