Meta Platforms, Inc. has recently made a similar series of agreements to fuel its data centers with nuclear energy. This decision represents a major advance in improving the company’s energy sustainability. The technology giant has signed deals with three companies: Oklo, TerraPower, and Vistra. These agreements will together deliver more than six gigawatts (GW) of nuclear energy to help power Meta’s rapidly expanding energy consumption.
Meta has implemented a number of measures to obtain a consistent and dependable energy source for its data centers. These agreements have been an essential component of that strategy. The private utility’s plan to minimize its carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels includes a pivot toward nuclear power. Through its partnerships with both legacy and new market challengers in the nuclear industry, Meta aims to fortify its ongoing operational sustainability.
What makes Meta’s agreement with Vistra unique is the inclusion of a long-term 20-year capacity commitment from existing nuclear power plants. Vistra has plans to keep operating all of those reactors, and more of them, for years to come. From its Perry and Davis-Besse facilities in Ohio, it will provide Meta with 2.1 GW in total. According to our analysis, this agreement will be most immediately felt in the energy needs of Meta.
We hear that Meta has recently completed its first agreement with Vistra. They executed contracts with Oklo and TerraPower, two developers with an SMR—small modular reactor—design. In total, Oklo’s first contribution to Meta will total two reactors producing up to 690 megawatts (MW). Additionally, Meta has locked down the rights to purchase six additional units from Oklo. This will increase its installed nuclear capacity from this partnership to 2.8 GW in total. In addition to this, Meta will purchase 1.2 GW of storage capacity specifically tailored to improve energy reliability.
Oklo intends to build their reactors in Pike County, Ohio. This is all assuming that they can still deliver on their construction schedule. Each reactor will be capable of producing about 345 MW of electricity. The complementary storage system will increase energy supply during the most expensive hours of peak demand. It is projected to add a net of over 100 to 500 MW beyond five hours.
With TerraPower’s involvement, the deal makes Meta’s commitment to advancing cutting edge nuclear technology more solid. The Atlanta-based company is at the forefront of SMR technology. This new innovation represents a more nimble and efficient method of building nuclear power.
Meta is working with Vistra and signing agreements with Oklo and TerraPower. This project closely aligns with Meta’s commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from all of its global operations by 2030. As energy consumption continues to rise with the increasing demands on data centers, securing dependable and clean energy sources becomes paramount for Meta.
Once implemented, the planned upgrades at the Perry and Davis-Besse facilities will increase their capacity to generate power. That’s right, 433 MW strong addition to boot! These improvements aren’t expected to go online until the early 2030s, cementing Meta’s long-term energy plan even more.
Meta is gearing up to massively expand its data center infrastructure across the world. This inclusion of nuclear power into its energy portfolio represents an important milestone in the company’s efforts to become fully sustainable. Finally, Meta is heavily investing in advanced nuclear technologies. By working together with major players in the industry, it places itself at the leading edge of U.S. energy innovation.