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I imagine they will just finance their own small nuclear reactor plants probably through power purchase agreements in whatever states which will allow them to d
by onlyrealcuzzo 2y ago
I imagine they will just finance their own small nuclear reactor plants probably through power purchase agreements in whatever states which will allow them to do so. Those states will be where the new data centers and jobs go.
They're not going to build a second grid, or power plants for everyone else. That's an awful business. These companies are in good businesses. They don't want to get into an awful business.
There's so much wealth to be created given the multiplier these SMNR companies are likely to have. And the tech companies will invest in the SMNR companies they purchase power from. Some of them are already invested.
Hopefully, they'll have enough scale that whatever they need to do makes it cheaper for the grid at large.
- RayVR 2y agoI think this is what you are saying, but to clarify, they will not own the power infrastructure. Execs from Google and Microsoft have already said this[0] Microsoft have already entered into an agreement with Constellation Energy which pays to restart one of the reactors at three mile island. This comes with a 20yr purchase of the power from that plant. There aren't many usable and idle nuclear power plants sitting around. It's extremely likely, as you point out, that states will soon be competing for jobs by offering land for both data centers as well as new power plants. The best estimates I've seen but new construction of nuclear plants at 5-7 years. If this could safely be sped up then I assume big tech is already working to make it happen. Of note, there are already some third parties/regulators working to stop big tech from capturing large shares of existing power generation[1] [0] https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/061824-google-microsoft-will-not-invest-in-new-nuclear-plants-but-support-technology-officials https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insight... [1] https://spectrum.ieee.org/amazon-data-center-nuclear-power https://spectrum.ieee.org/amazon-data-center-nuclear-power
- onlyrealcuzzo 2y agoIn South Korea, they can complete SMNR in 24 months: https://www.constructionbriefing.com/news/who-is-building-small-modular-reactors-and-how-long-will-it-take-/8026100.article#:~:text=The%20South%20Korean%20government%20claimed,power%20plant%20built%20on%20site https://www.constructionbriefing.com/news/who-is-building-sm....
- blonder 2y agoThey claim they can do that in 24 months.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]