人工智能引爆核能创业潮

Core Viewpoint - The rise of artificial intelligence has led to a surge in electricity demand in the U.S., prompting tech giants to invest in nuclear fission as a stable energy source for data centers [1] Group 1: Nuclear Energy Revival - After decades of nuclear plant closures, nuclear energy is experiencing a revival, driven by the need for stable, predictable energy supply for tech companies [1] - New reactor designs, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs), aim to overcome the limitations of traditional nuclear power plants [1] Group 2: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) - SMRs rely on mass manufacturing to reduce costs, but the U.S. has yet to build one [2] - Major tech companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are investing in or purchasing power from nuclear startups [2] Group 3: Key Nuclear Startups - Kairos Power: Google has committed to purchasing approximately 500 MW of power by 2035, with its first reactor expected to be operational by 2030. The company has received $629 million in funding, including $303 million from the U.S. Department of Energy [5] - Oklo: Supported by OpenAI's CEO, Oklo aims to provide 12 GW of power to data center operator Switch by 2044. The company plans to resubmit its license application in 2025 after a previous rejection [8] - Saltfoss: This startup is developing a "power barge" solution with 2 to 8 reactors on board, having raised nearly $60 million in funding [10] - TerraPower: Founded by Bill Gates, TerraPower is constructing a Natrium reactor in Wyoming with a capacity of 345 MW, utilizing molten salt for energy storage [12][14] - X-Energy: The company secured $700 million in funding and plans to deploy 300 MW of new nuclear capacity in the Pacific Northwest and Virginia [16]