The Dominion coal burning energy plant is seen in Saint Paul, Virginia, on Feb. 7, 2023.
Mike Belleme | The Washington Put up | Getty Photos
Dominion Vitality is speaking with different tech firms about creating 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’s extremely encouraging to see giant energy customers, together with expertise firms, categorical a willingness to speculate, accomplice and collaborate to deliver this thrilling base load carbon free expertise into fruition,” Dominion CEO Robert Blue advised buyers on the corporate’s third-quarter earnings name Friday.
Dominion and Amazon have signed a memorandum of understanding to discover creating a small modular reactor close to the utility’s North Anna nuclear station in Louisa County, Virginia. The small reactor would deliver 300 megawatts of energy to Virginia.
Virginia is likely one of the most nuclear-friendly states within the nation with robust bipartisan assist for next-generation nuclear initiatives, Blue mentioned.
“It is not shocking that our giant clients would have an interest as they give thought to us as an excellent operator of nuclear, to work collectively on possibly advancing these sorts of applied sciences,” the CEO advised buyers.
“So we have been speaking with Amazon clearly and others,” the CEO mentioned.
Tech firms are investing in nuclear energy as they hunt for carbon-free, dependable electrical energy to assist the rising vitality wants of synthetic intelligence knowledge facilities. Dominion serves the most important knowledge middle market on the earth, northern Virginia.
Earlier this yr, Amazon purchased a knowledge middle campus from Talen Vitality that might 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 crops. 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 achieve the business stage. There isn’t any working small modular reactor within the U.S. proper now.
