Google is the first tech giant to turn to nuclear energy to meet part of its energy needs. The company has placed an order for 6 to 7 small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to help power its energy-hungry data centers in a clean, low-carbon way.

The order was placed with the emerging startup Kairos Power, and it concerns SMRs with a total capacity of 500 megawatts.

Details of the financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, as does whether Google plans to fund the construction of the SMRs or simply purchase the electricity they will generate.

Kairos, which is just seven years old, has stated that it aims to begin commercial nuclear power production by 2030. In fact, the approval it received for its new reactor design marks the first such approval in the nuclear industry in nearly half a century.

Notably, the United States has only commissioned three new nuclear reactors in the past 20 years.

“This agreement is of historic significance for us at Google and aligns with our 15-year journey toward clean energy,” commented Michael Terrell, Google's Head of Energy and Climate. By making this move, Google has outpaced its competitors, as the tech industry increasingly recognizes the need to shift to nuclear energy to meet its vast energy demands.

Last month, Microsoft also expressed interest in purchasing electricity from the nuclear plant at Three Mile Island. However, Google is the first to take an active role in the nuclear energy sector.