Scientific American: AI’s soaring energy demands pose a grave nuclear waste crisis

Nuclear power’s potential resurgence is being driven by major tech companies seeking reliable energy sources for their AI data centers, with companies like Microsoft and Amazon announcing plans to invest in nuclear facilities at historically significant sites.

The current landscape: Major technology companies are turning to nuclear power as a solution for the massive energy demands of their AI operations and data centers.

• Microsoft is pushing to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island to power its expanding data center operations
• Amazon has committed $334 million to develop small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) at the Hanford Site
• Google plans to purchase 500 megawatts from Kairos Power’s SMR project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
• Meta is actively seeking nuclear power plant bids for its data centers

Power consumption reality: The energy requirements for AI operations and data centers are reaching unprecedented levels that challenge existing power infrastructure.

• A single Nvidia Blackwell chip consumes up to two kilowatts of power – equivalent to a typical house’s energy usage
• Hyperscale data centers require over 100 megawatts of power each
• The Department of Energy projects data centers will consume 7-12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028
• Meeting projected power demands would require building or reactivating at least 40 Three Mile Island-equivalent reactors in five years

Environmental considerations: While nuclear power offers carbon-free energy, it presents significant environmental challenges.

• The uranium supply chain poses risks of radioactive releases at multiple stages
• Over 90,000 tons of nuclear waste are currently stored across 77 sites in 35 states
• Annual nuclear waste increases by more than 2,000 tons
• The Department of Energy has spent hundreds of billions on nuclear complex cleanup efforts

Technical and regulatory hurdles: The path to implementing new nuclear solutions faces significant obstacles.

• Small modular reactors may create more complex and costly waste management challenges
• NuScale’s SMR project was abandoned after costs more than doubled to $9.3 billion
• Commercial viability of new SMR designs is likely at least a decade away
• Regulatory approval processes for novel nuclear technologies are complex and time-consuming

Alternative considerations: Tech companies face important decisions about their energy strategies and consumption patterns.

• Energy storage technology has advanced significantly
• Software efficiency improvements, demonstrated by China’s DeepSeek AI program, could help reduce energy demands
• Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal merit renewed attention
• The current AI arms race may be driving unnecessary acceleration of data center expansion

Critical analysis: The rush to nuclear power appears to be a hasty response to immediate energy needs rather than a sustainable long-term solution, particularly given unresolved waste management issues and the extended timeline for developing new nuclear technologies. Tech companies may need to prioritize energy efficiency and explore a more diverse mix of power sources, including advanced energy storage solutions paired with renewables.