Sam Altman-backed nuclear startup Oklo Inc said Wednesday it has signed a non-binding agreement to provide power to Las Vegas-based data center operator Switch.
Under the agreement, Oklo will develop nuclear reactors, called Aurora Powerhouse, with a total capacity of 12 gigawatts until 2044.
Each Aurora Powerhouse reactor has a maximum power level of 15 megawatts of electricity, according to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Nuclear power, which is nearly carbon-free and considered more reliable than other energy sources such as solar and wind, has emerged as a popular energy source amid a global push toward net-zero carbon emissions.
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Oklo will seek to promote clean energy in data centers
Several US utilities are signing deals with big tech companies such as Microsoft and Amazon to power their data centers with electricity generated from nuclear plants.
Oklo shares rose nearly 12% to $21.41 before the bell.
“The timing of this agreement underscores Switch and Oklo’s commitment to meeting the growing electricity demands of artificial intelligence with clean and sustainable energy,” the startup stated.
Switch operates multiple renewable energy-powered data centers in the United States and counts companies such as NVIDIA, FedEx, Google and PayPal among its customers.
Oklo, which went public in May through a merger with Altman’s blank check company, aims to develop its first small modular nuclear reactor by 2027.
With information from Reuters
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