AI的尽头是核电？科技巨头纷纷“拥抱”

Core Viewpoint - The increasing demand for energy driven by the AI computing race is leading technology companies to turn to nuclear energy as a viable solution to support their operations and long-term power supply needs [1][2][3]. Group 1: Nuclear Energy Agreements - Meta has signed a 20-year nuclear power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy to buy approximately 1.1 gigawatts of electricity starting June 2027 [1]. - Other tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are also entering into long-term power purchase agreements with nuclear energy companies, indicating a shift towards nuclear energy in the tech sector [1][3]. - Microsoft previously signed a similar agreement with Constellation Energy to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, securing a 20-year power supply [3]. Group 2: Energy Demand and AI Growth - The rapid growth of AI technologies is leading to an exponential increase in power demand, with global data center electricity needs expected to double by 2030, reaching approximately 945 terawatt-hours (TWh) [2]. - The International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights that AI applications will be the primary driver of this growth in electricity demand [2]. Group 3: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) - The rise of small modular reactors (SMRs) offers a flexible nuclear power solution, suitable for dedicated power supply to data centers [4]. - Amazon plans to invest $500 million in X-energy to deploy over 5 gigawatts of SMR capacity by 2039, while Google has signed an agreement to purchase power from 6-7 planned SMRs with a total capacity of 500 megawatts [4]. Group 4: Investment in Data Centers - Major tech companies are significantly increasing their investments in data centers to support AI infrastructure, with Microsoft planning to invest $80 billion in AI data centers by fiscal year 2025 [5]. - Amazon aims to invest over $100 billion in data centers over the next decade, surpassing its investments in retail warehouses [5]. - Google plans to invest approximately $7.5 billion in data center capacity by 2025, doubling its commitment to generative AI [5]. Group 5: Future of Nuclear Energy - The collaboration between tech companies and energy firms is expected to reshape the nuclear energy landscape, providing stable cash flows for nuclear operators and facilitating new project developments [6]. - The push for nuclear energy is anticipated to accelerate with the growing adoption of AI technologies and the implementation of carbon neutrality policies globally [6].