Why Meta Sees Nuclear as the Future of Data Centre Energy

Meta is now one of the largest corporate buyers of nuclear energy in American history.

The company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp finalised a series of landmark agreements on 9 January, all of which amount to the offtake of 6.6GW of nuclear power by 2035.

Mark Zuckerberg's firm signed 20-year power purchase deals with Vistra, TerraPower and Oklo for undisclosed sums, following on from its previous agreement with Constellation Energy. The move places it alongside firms like Google, Amazon and Microsoft in terms of the procurement of nuclear energy.

This announcement is proof positive that the US's foremost technology companies are increasingly turning to nuclear as a solution for the spiralling energy demands of AI infrastructure.

Extending operational life of existing plants

The Vistra partnership represents the most immediate impact on America's nuclear fleet.

Meta will purchase more than 2.1GW of energy through 20-year agreements covering two Ohio plants – Perry and Davis-Besse – along with capacity expansions at these facilities and a third site at Beaver Valley in Pennsylvania.

The uprates will add 433MW of new capacity to the PJM grid region in the early 2030s.

"This agreement is beneficial in many ways – it powers American innovation and AI technology, while allowing us to extend the operational life of these plants, boost the capacity of the nuclear reactors to support the grid, protect existing jobs while creating new ones, and continue investing in the communities where our plants are located," says Jim Burke, who is President and CEO of Vistra.

All three facilities feed into the PJM interconnection, the regional transmission organisation that coordinates electricity across 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Backing next-generation reactor designs

Meta's agreements with TerraPower and Oklo are slightly different in that they target those more advanced nuclear technologies that remain unproven at commercial scales.

The TerraPower deal provides funding for two Natrium units capable of generating up to 690MW, with delivery anticipated as early as 2032.

Meta has also secured rights to energy from six additional Natrium units producing 2.1GW, targeted for 2035 delivery.

The eight potential units would provide 2.8GW of baseload generation capacity plus 1.2GW of built-in storage.

"This agreement with Meta is designed to support the rapid deployment of our Natrium technology that provides the reliable, flexible, and carbon-free power our country needs," explains Chris Levesque, TerraPower's President and CEO.

Chris noted that the company has completed its design, established supply chains and cleared key regulatory milestones for its first Natrium plant currently under development.

Ohio campus could deliver 1.2GW

The Oklo partnership focuses on Pike County, Ohio, where an advanced nuclear technology campus could come online as early as 2030.

The project aims to add up to 1.2GW of clean baseload power directly into the PJM market.

Multiple Aurora Powerhouse reactors would be constructed on the site, with Oklo's designs based on fast-reactor technology capable of using both fresh and repurposed fuel.

"Meta's funding commitment in support of early procurement and development activity is a major step in moving advanced nuclear forward," says Jacob DeWitte, Oklo's co-Founder and CEO.

The projects collectively promise thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent operational positions across Ohio and Pennsylvania.

AI infrastructure drives energy demand

Meta operates data centres including its Prometheus supercluster in New Albany, Ohio, which will be supported by power from these nuclear projects.

The company states it pays full costs for data centre energy consumption, ensuring consumers do not bear these expenses.

For Meta's leadership team, these investments in nuclear energy are exciting not only for the company itself but also for the American energy landscape at large.

"By investing in nuclear energy, Meta is helping to strengthen America’s energy infrastructure, drive innovation in the sector, and support the next generation of AI and digital technologies," says Urvi Parekh, Director of Global Energy at Meta.