Major tech, energy companies pledge to support tripling nuclear capacity by 2050

A group of major technology and energy companies, banks, financial institutions and 31 countries pledged March 12 to support a goal of at least tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050.

The effort, led by the World Nuclear Association, includes Amazon, Google parent company Alphabet, Facebook parent Meta, Dow, Occidental Petroleum, Allseas Group, OSGE and IHI Corp.

"Nuclear power will be pivotal in building a reliable, secure and sustainable energy future," Lucian Tian, head of clean energy and decarbonization technologies at Google, said in a statement. "Google will continue to work alongside our partners to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies that can provide the around-the-clock clean energy necessary to meet growing electricity demand around the world."

Amazon has invested "more than $1 billion over the last year in nuclear energy projects and technologies," said Brandon Oyer, head of Americas energy and water for Amazon Web Services.

Nuclear energy generates about 9% of the world's electricity from 439 power reactors. The International Energy Agency estimates global energy consumption is likely to continue to grow about 4% each year.

The pledge includes an agreement that nuclear energy capacity "should at least triple by 2050, from current levels, to help achieve global goals for enhanced energy resiliency and security and continuous firm clean energy supply."

It also recognizes a significant role for nuclear to provide generation for a range of economic activity, including technology, increased electrification, high-temperature industrial process heat, hydrogen production, district heating and production of synthetic fuels.

"This pledge demonstrates the demand and support for innovation, investment and collaboration to achieve global ambitions of industry and countries," the World Nuclear Association said in a March 12 statement announcing the agreement.

US tech companies have shown significant interest in nuclear, seeking gigawatts of firm, carbon-free power for AI operations and data center projects.

Among them, Google partnered with Kairos Power to deploy 500 MW of advanced nuclear beginning in 2030; Amazon, advanced nuclear developer X-Energy and Dominion Energy teamed for advanced reactor projects; and Meta said it would seek proposals for up to 4 GW of nuclear by the early 2030s.

Constellation Energy also announced plans in September 2024 to restart unit 1 of its Three Mile Island plant to supply power to Microsoft data centers in the PJM Interconnection region.

"The unprecedented support announced today by some of the world's most influential companies ... sends a clear signal to accelerate policy, finance and regulatory changes that enable the rapid expansion of nuclear power," said Sama Bilbao y Leon, director general of the World Nuclear Association.