Reviving "Zombie" Nuclear Reactors: Can AI Fuel a Nuclear Power Renaissance?
AI boom revives mothballed nuclear reactors as energy demand surges.
Matilda
Reviving "Zombie" Nuclear Reactors: Can AI Fuel a Nuclear Power Renaissance?
The American energy landscape is poised for a dramatic shift, driven by the insatiable appetite of artificial intelligence (AI) for massive amounts of electricity. This surge in demand has reignited interest in nuclear power, including the resurrection of long-dormant projects. One such project is the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Power Station in South Carolina. Originally intended to expand with two new reactors, the project was abruptly halted in 2017 due to soaring costs and significant delays. This debacle contributed to the bankruptcy of Westinghouse, a prominent nuclear power company, and cast a long shadow over the U.S. nuclear industry. The AI-Fueled Resurgence of Nuclear Power However, the AI revolution is changing the game. The immense computational power required to train and run sophisticated AI models translates to a skyrocketing demand for electricity. Data centers, the beating heart of the AI ecosystem, are energy-guzzling behemoths, consuming vast amounts of power to keep the…
