Meta Expands Nuclear Power Ambitions with Bill Gates' Startup

Meta has forged agreements with three nuclear power providers in an effort to secure the vast amount of electricity it needs to power AI data centers. The agreements with TerraPower, Oklo, and Vistra are expected to deliver 6.6 gigawatts of energy for Meta's projects by 2035. This amount of energy is enough to power the entire country of Ireland.

These AI projects include Prometheus, the first of several supercluster computing systems. Prometheus is expected to come online in New Albany, Ohio, sometime this year. Meta is funding the construction of new nuclear reactors as part of the agreements.

Meta has secured partnerships with three distinct nuclear power providers to fuel its expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company is moving forward with agreements involving TerraPower, Oklo, and Vistra. These collaborations are designed to meet the massive energy demands of next-generation AI data centers.

The partnerships highlight the tech industry's increasing reliance on stable, carbon-free energy sources. By investing in nuclear power, Meta aims to ensure that its energy-intensive AI projects have a reliable power supply for the foreseeable future.

The agreements are structured to deliver a combined total of 6.6 gigawatts of energy. This output is scheduled to be available by 2035. To put this figure into perspective, this amount of energy is sufficient to power the entire nation of Ireland.

The nuclear providers involved in Meta's strategy represent some of the most prominent names in the emerging energy sector. Each provider brings a unique background and technological focus to the table.

TerraPower is notable for its backing by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The company is a leader in advanced reactor design. Oklo is backed by Sam Altman, a prominent figure in the AI industry. Vistra completes the trio of providers.

Meta is not merely purchasing power; the company is actively funding the construction of new nuclear reactors. This direct financial involvement underscores the strategic importance of these energy sources to Meta's long-term business plans.

One of the primary beneficiaries of this new energy infrastructure is the Prometheus project. Prometheus is the first of several planned supercluster computing systems designed to power Meta's AI ambitions. These superclusters are massive collections of GPUs and processors used to train large language models and other advanced AI systems.

Prometheus is scheduled to come online in New Albany, Ohio. The facility is expected to begin operations sometime this year. The deployment of Prometheus marks a significant milestone in Meta's efforts to scale its AI capabilities.

The energy generated by the new nuclear reactors will support Prometheus and subsequent superclusters. This ensures that Meta's data centers can operate at full capacity without interruption.

The timeline for Meta's nuclear energy expansion extends over the next decade. While the Prometheus supercluster is set to launch in 2026 in Ohio, the full energy capacity of 6.6 gigawatts will not be realized until 2035.

The construction of the new reactors is a complex process that requires significant time and investment. However, Meta's funding of these projects indicates a strong commitment to seeing them through to completion.

This move positions Meta as a leader in corporate adoption of nuclear energy for data center operations. As AI models become increasingly complex, the demand for power will only grow. Meta's proactive approach to securing nuclear energy may set a precedent for other technology companies facing similar energy challenges.