Google has announced a collaboration with NextEra Energy to revive the Duane Arnold Energy Center, a nuclear power plant in Iowa that ceased operations in 2020. The move aims to power Google’s expanding data center fleet with zero-carbon energy sources.
NextEra had been seeking a partner to reopen the reactor and found Google as a suitable candidate due to its commitment to sustainable energy practices. The Duane Arnold Energy Center, originally designed to produce 601 megawatts of electricity, is set to undergo recommissioning to potentially generate an additional 14 megawatts.
While financial details of the partnership remain undisclosed, NextEra plans to restart the facility by 2029. Google has agreed to purchase a majority of the power generated for the next 25 years, with the rest being sold to the Central Iowa Power Cooperative under similar terms. This strategic move signifies a resurgence of interest in nuclear power among tech companies and data center operators, seeking reliable and eco-friendly energy sources to meet escalating electricity demands.
Source: TechCrunch