Meta has signed a 20-year nuclear power deal to meet the surging power demand for its artificial intelligence (AI) needs.
Meta's joint investment with Constellation Energy will also expand the output of a nuclear plant in the state of Illinois in the US by 30 megawatts, preserve 1,100 local jobs, and bring in $13.5 million (€11.8 million) in annual tax revenue, according to the companies.
The plant currently powers the equivalent of about 800,000 US homes.
The deal will come into effect in 2027, after the lapse of a zero-emission credit programme keeping the Illinois plant afloat that is set to expire that year.
"Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions," said Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy.
Big Tech turning to nuclear
The agreement announced on Tuesday is just the latest in a string of tech-nuclear partnerships as the use of AI expands. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Surging investments in small nuclear reactors comes at a time when large tech companies are facing two major demands: a need to increase their energy supply for AI and data centers, among other needs, while also trying to meet their long-term goals to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Last autumn, Amazon said it was investing in small nuclear reactors, two days after a similar announcement by Google.
Additionally, Google announced last month that it was investing in three advanced nuclear energy projects with Elementl Power.
Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have also been investing in solar and wind technologies, which make electricity without producing greenhouse gas emissions.
