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The Dominion coal burning energy plant is seen in Saint Paul, Virginia, on Feb. 7, 2023.
Mike Belleme | The Washington Submit | Getty Pictures
Dominion Vitality is speaking with different tech corporations about growing small modular nuclear reactors, after the Virginia utility entered into an settlement with Amazon final month to take a look at advancing the next-generation expertise.
“It is very encouraging to see massive energy customers, together with expertise corporations, specific a willingness to take a position, associate and collaborate to carry this thrilling base load carbon free expertise into fruition,” Dominion CEO Robert Blue advised buyers on the corporate’s third-quarter earnings name Friday.
Dominion and Amazon have signed a memorandum of understanding to discover growing a small modular reactor close to the utility’s North Anna nuclear station in Louisa County, Virginia. The small reactor would carry 300 megawatts of energy to Virginia.
Virginia is likely one of the most nuclear-friendly states within the nation with sturdy bipartisan assist for next-generation nuclear initiatives, Blue mentioned.
“It isn’t stunning that our massive clients would have an interest as they give thought to us as a very good operator of nuclear, to work collectively on possibly advancing these sorts of applied sciences,” the CEO advised buyers.
“So we have been speaking with Amazon clearly and others,” the CEO mentioned.
Tech corporations are investing in nuclear energy as they hunt for carbon-free, dependable electrical energy to assist the rising power wants of synthetic intelligence information facilities. Dominion serves the most important information middle market on the planet, northern Virginia.
Earlier this yr, Amazon purchased an information middle campus from Talen Vitality that can be powered by the Susquehanna nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Microsoft has signed an settlement to buy energy from Three Mile Island as Constellation Vitality goals to restart the plant in 2028. Alphabet‘s Google agreed final month to buy energy from the startup Kairos Energy, a developer of small modular reactors.
Small modular reactors promise to scale back capital prices and velocity the deployment of nuclear vegetation. They’ve a smaller footprint than massive reactors, making them simpler to website in precept, and promise an easier manufacturing course of.
However the expertise has struggled to achieve the business stage. There is no such thing as a working small modular reactor within the U.S. proper now.
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