Google Taps Advanced Nuclear Power to Fuel Data Centers in Tennessee and Alabama
August 19, 2025
Google has reached a groundbreaking deal to bring advanced nuclear energy onto the grid in Tennessee, a first in the United States. The company signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Kairos Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to source electricity from Kairos’s Hermes 2 reactor in Oak Ridge. The clean power will support Google’s data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, helping the company cut emissions while meeting growing demand for digital services.
Hermes 2 represents a new generation of nuclear technology designed to deliver steady, carbon-free electricity more efficiently than traditional reactors. The project will begin with 28 megawatts of capacity and expand to 50 megawatts, with operations expected to start by 2030. Longer term, Kairos Power aims to deploy 500 megawatts of this advanced nuclear capacity by 2035.
For Google, the partnership underscores its strategy of securing reliable clean energy for its operations. Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s Global Head of Data Center Energy, noted that the project combines innovation with sustainability, advancing solutions that could benefit the wider region.
Beyond meeting Google’s needs, the collaboration is seen as a step toward lowering costs and proving the viability of advanced nuclear as part of the broader clean energy transition.
