TerraPower, the advanced nuclear energy company supported by Bill Gates, revealed on Friday an agreement with Meta to construct as many as eight small modular reactors across the United States, with the initial facility expected to begin operations by 2032.

Technology corporations have been vigorously seeking innovative clean energy options as they compete to construct energy-intensive data centers required for expanding artificial intelligence capabilities.

The agreement between TerraPower and Meta will supply the social media giant with as much as 2.8 gigawatts of power through its Natrium nuclear technology. These installations will feature an energy storage component capable of delivering short-duration power surges, bringing the combined capacity to 4 gigawatts.

This arrangement represents Meta’s most substantial individual nuclear agreement thus far. Neither organization disclosed potential construction locations for these reactors. The company operates from Bellevue, Washington.

Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, emphasized in a statement that meeting escalating energy requirements necessitates deploying multiple gigawatts of advanced nuclear power throughout the 2030s. He noted that this Meta agreement aims to facilitate swift implementation of their Natrium technology, delivering the dependable, adaptable, and emissions-free electricity the nation requires.

Meta’s announcement revealed supplementary partnerships with Vistra and Oklo. The Vistra collaboration involves the Perry and Davis-Besse facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania’s Beaver Valley plant. This partnership will prolong these reactors’ operational lifespans while boosting their energy generation. Meta plans to acquire over 2.1 gigawatts of power from these installations.

The Oklo partnership involves a company backed by Sam Altman that is developing small modular reactors, with construction underway in Pike County, Ohio. These reactors are anticipated to commence operations around 2030, potentially adding as much as 1.2 gigawatts to electrical infrastructure.

Previously, Meta entered a June agreement with Constellation supporting the relicensing and operational extension of its Illinois nuclear facility.

Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, stated that their arrangements with Vistra, TerraPower, Oklo, and Constellation position Meta among the most substantial corporate nuclear energy purchasers in American history.

The technology industry has faced heightened examination regarding the effects of its power acquisition efforts on utility customers and the environment. Last month, three Democratic senators issued
correspondence to Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and three data center companies, notifying them of an inquiry into their impact on residential electricity costs.

Meta responded to these concerns through its new partnership announcement, explaining their ongoing cooperation with electric utility providers and power suppliers to anticipate and fulfill their energy requirements years before data centers become operational. The company stated they cover complete energy costs for their data centers, preventing consumers from bearing these expenses, while supporting the broader electrical grid through their energy contracts.

Amazon and Microsoft are similarly pursuing nuclear energy options. Amazon is collaborating with X-energy and other partners to construct a nuclear facility in Richland, Washington, adjacent to the state’s sole operating nuclear plant. In 2024, Microsoft finalized a 20-year agreement to reactivate a nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island, a location notorious for experiencing a partial meltdown in 1979.

TerraPower is currently constructing its initial commercial reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, targeting 2030 for beginning nuclear fission operations. The reactor site neighbors a retiring coal-fired power plant.

December brought news that the company achieved an important regulatory benchmark, receiving approval on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff’s final safety assessment for its permit. While additional permitting requirements remain, the company aspires to become the first deploying a utility-scale, next-generation reactor domestically.

Founded in 2006, the company builds upon technology from an
experimental breeder reactor in Idaho that functioned almost three decades before closure. Its Natrium reactor incorporates innovations from both TerraPower and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy.

June saw TerraPower announce $650 million in fresh capital from Gates, the company’s co-founder, alongside NVIDIA’s venture division. Previously, it secured over $1 billion, including investments from Gates and South Korean entities SK Inc. and SK Innovation. TerraPower has also received approximately $2 billion in awards from the United States Department of Energy.