AWS: Embracing Nuclear Energy for AI & Data Centre Growth
Matt Garman, CEO of AWS, has emphasised nuclear energy as a “great solution” to meet the power needs of data centres, describing it as “an excellent source of zero carbon, 24/7 power.”
As the UK accelerates its ambition to be at the forefront of AI technology, developing infrastructure like data centres is critical. The national initiative aims to establish AI Growth Zones (AIGZs), enhancing investment in AI data centres, with a focus on improving power accessibility and providing planning support.
Nonetheless, sustainability remains a pressing concern.
Leading technology companies are exploring advanced energy solutions to sustainably develop and deploy AI. In a conversation with the BBC, Matt outlines how these energy plans align with AWS's strategic vision.
“It's something we plan many years out,” he says. “We invest ahead. I think the world is going to have to build new technologies. I believe nuclear is a big part of that, particularly as we look 10 years out.”
The role of SMRs in data centre evolution
Small modular reactors (SMRs) offer a scaled-down version of traditional nuclear power plants, with the potential for modular construction facilitating quicker deployment. This feature boosts their appeal, especially in data centre sectors keen on integrating sustainable energy sources.
Nuclear power is hailed for its potential in powering the AI evolution, due to its carbon-neutral profile and round-the-clock energy provision. While nuclear waste remains an issue, nuclear energy poses a promising option for emission reductions within the data centre sector. The anticipated rise of nuclear-powered data centres is bolstered by ongoing projects and policies in the nuclear sphere, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Prominent tech companies like Amazon are already backing nuclear power-based initiatives to sustain data centre growth while curtailing energy consumption extensively. Last year, Amazon formed nuclear energy agreements with Energy Northwest, Dominion Energy, and nuclear reactor startup X-energy to strengthen its energy strategy.
Discussing these agreements, Matt stated, “Nuclear is a safe source of carbon-free energy that can help power our operations and meet the growing demands of our customers, while helping us progress toward our Climate Pledge commitment to be net zero carbon across our operations by 2040.”
AWS's Strategic Investments in the UK
AWS is set to expand its data centre presence in the UK, projecting a £14 billion (US$18.63bn) contribution to the UK GDP over the forthcoming five years.
This investment is part of a broader supply chain strategy encompassing construction, facility maintenance and telecommunications, among other sectors within the local economy.
“AI is one of the most transformative technologies since the internet. It's going to have a significant effect on almost every part of our lives,” Matt says.
“With any technology that is sufficiently new or hard to understand, people are probably appropriately scared of it initially, until they better understand it so that initial response is not particularly surprising.”
Adding to this, he notes, “Anytime you're building a transformational technology, it's vital to think about those controls and guardrails so that it can go towards the betterment of society, not the detriment.”
Globally, AWS stands as the leading corporate buyer of renewable energy, having supported over 40 solar and wind farm projects within the UK alone.
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