This week, Meta announced its acquisition of 200 megawatts of solar energy from the global electric utility company Engie, further strengthening its impressive portfolio of over 12 gigawatts in renewable energy sources.
This development arrives at a time when technology firms are intensifying their AI initiatives, hastening the establishment of data centers, which has significantly increased the demand for electricity. Projections suggest that by 2027, approximately half of all newly deployed AI servers may lack sufficient power.
Meta has been progressively expanding its energy resources, having announced back in December its plans for a 2-gigawatt data center in Louisiana, despite that facility primarily relying on natural gas for power. The newly acquired solar array is situated close to one of Meta’s current data centers in Texas.
In a recent trend, tech companies have begun partnering with nuclear startups, resulting in numerous agreements late last year. For instance, Google and Kairos have collaborated to introduce 500 megawatts of small modular nuclear reactors, set to launch in 2030. Meanwhile, Amazon has inked a contract with X-Energy for 300 megawatts, expected to be operational in the early 2030s.
Not wanting to miss out, Meta also revealed in December that it is inviting proposals from nuclear power developers for 1 to 4 gigawatts of energy to be available by the early 2030s, with submissions due by February 7.
Despite the increased focus on nuclear energy, renewable power sources continue to expand their capabilities without much fanfare, enabling firms like Meta to enhance their computational capacities today. Google is backing a substantial $20 billion renewable energy initiative with Intersect Power and TPG Rise, while Microsoft collaborates with Acadia Infrastructure Capital on a $9 billion deal.
One of the key hurdles for nuclear startups will be the speed at which renewable energy can be implemented. For example, Meta’s solar farm is projected to be operational by 2025.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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