Meta’s nuclear power deals show how AI’s relentless demand for always-on compute is driving Big Tech to secure gigawatt-scale energy—reviving existing reactors while accelerating bets on next-generation nuclear technology. (Source: Image by RR)

Vistra Agreement Provides Immediate and Low-Cost Baseload Energy

Meta has announced three major nuclear power agreements aimed at supplying its rapidly expanding data center footprint with reliable, carbon-free electricity. The deals span both established nuclear operators and next-generation reactor startups, reflecting the tech giant’s urgency to lock in long-term energy capacity as AI-driven compute demand accelerates. Together, according to an article in techcrunch.com, the agreements could deliver several gigawatts of power by the early 2030s.

The most immediate impact comes from a 20-year agreement with Vistra, which will supply 2.1 gigawatts from its existing Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants in Ohio. Vistra will also upgrade those facilities and its Beaver Valley plant in Pennsylvania, adding another 433 megawatts of capacity by the early 2030s. Because existing reactors already operate at scale, this electricity is expected to be among the cheapest baseload power available to Meta.

To secure additional future capacity, Meta is also backing small modular reactor (SMR) startups Oklo and TerraPower. Oklo plans to supply 1.2 gigawatts starting as early as 2030, though it still faces regulatory hurdles with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Its Aurora Powerhouse reactors generate 75 megawatts each, meaning more than a dozen units would be required to meet Meta’s needs. The deal gives Oklo a high-profile opportunity to prove the economics of mass-produced SMRs.

TerraPower, co-founded by Bill Gates, is further along in deployment and expects to begin supplying Meta by 2032. Its sodium-cooled reactor design combines 345 megawatts of generation with thermal storage capable of delivering an additional 100 to 500 megawatts for several hours. Meta has secured rights to up to eight TerraPower reactors, totaling 2.8 gigawatts of nuclear capacity plus 1.2 gigawatts of storage. While SMR costs remain uncertain, Meta’s commitments underscore how AI is reshaping energy markets—and accelerating nuclear power’s return as a cornerstone of digital infrastructure.

read more at techcrunch.com