Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger, plans to start utilizing gigawatt-scale nuclear energy by the early 2030s.
As one of the world’s largest tech giants, Meta is preparing to switch to nuclear energy to power its data centers in the U.S. The company aims to integrate 1 to 4 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity starting in the early 2030s.
Platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger operate under Meta’s umbrella. According to recent statistics, these platforms collectively serve 3.29 billion daily users. They rely heavily on large-scale data centers. Meta aims to combine nuclear energy with artificial intelligence to optimize the efficiency and sustainability of these centers.
To achieve this, Meta is seeking experienced partners in Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and larger nuclear reactor technologies. The company emphasizes flexibility in the geographic location of its nuclear projects, with no specific restrictions.
Meta views the use of nuclear energy as a pivotal step in fostering technological innovation and supporting economic growth. In a statement, the company said: “Innovations drive impactful technological advancements across industries while supporting economic expansion. We believe nuclear energy offers reliable, sustainable base-load power to meet the growing needs of our data centers and the surrounding communities they serve.”
Meta isn’t the only tech giant embracing nuclear energy. Google has signed agreements to build multiple reactors in the U.S., aiming to generate 500 megawatts of nuclear energy. Microsoft plans to revive the Three Mile Island nuclear plant to support its AI projects, while Amazon has also announced its commitment to nuclear energy.
