Google is continuing to invest in nuclear energy. You see, the search giant announced a collaboration with Kairos Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to bring advanced nuclear energy to its data centers in Tennessee and Alabama. At the center of this effort is Hermes 2, an advanced Generation IV reactor scheduled to begin operations in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, by 2030.
The project will deliver 50 megawatts of firm, around-the-clock nuclear power directly into TVA’s grid, making TVA the first U.S. utility to buy electricity from a Generation IV reactor. For Google, this is not just about powering existing facilities but also ensuring its growing digital footprint can be sustained by carbon-free energy.
Originally planned as a 28 MW reactor, Kairos Power boosted Hermes 2’s output to 50 MW to accelerate clean energy delivery to Google. Through the new power purchase agreement, Google will receive the clean energy attributes from the reactor, helping it further decarbonize operations while supporting new growth in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama.
This isn’t a one-off experiment. Hermes 2 is the first project under a larger deal that could unlock up to 500 MW of nuclear capacity by 2035, all tied to Google’s growing electricity demand. By moving early, Google is positioning itself as the biggest corporate backer of advanced nuclear in the U.S.
The collaboration has drawn high-profile praise. Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s Global Head of Data Center Energy, said it will “accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system.”
Kairos Power CEO Mike Laufer emphasized that Hermes 2 is “an important enabler to making advanced nuclear energy commercially competitive.” TVA CEO Don Moul framed it even more starkly, calling electricity “the strategic commodity that is the building block for AI and our nation’s economic prosperity.”
Leaders at the state and federal level echoed those sentiments. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called advanced nuclear “essential to U.S. AI dominance.” Tennessee Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn both hailed the project as proof of Tennessee’s leadership in nuclear technology. Governor Bill Lee added that it will strengthen Tennessee’s nuclear ecosystem and bring high-paying jobs to Oak Ridge.
Beyond supplying energy, the project will fuel economic growth. Workforce development programs are being set up with the University of Tennessee and local schools to train a new generation of nuclear operators and engineers. Oak Ridge, long known for its nuclear innovation, is once again positioned at the forefront of the industry.
For Google, the move shows a willingness to bet big on advanced nuclear technology when most tech companies are focused on solar and wind. With energy demand from AI and cloud services skyrocketing, the Hermes 2 reactor could become a test case for how the tech industry helps shape the future of America’s power grid.
