Nvidia invests in TerraPower’s nuclear future
Nvidia is making its first major bet on clean energy by investing in TerraPower, a nuclear startup founded by Bill Gates. The move signals a broader shift among tech giants toward sustainable energy solutions that can support their growing energy demands, particularly for data centers and AI infrastructure. TerraPower recently secured $650 million in a funding round backed by Nvidia’s venture arm NVentures, HD Hyundai, and Gates himself. With this investment, Nvidia becomes one of the first chipmakers to align itself with next-generation nuclear energy—a sector undergoing a modern renaissance.
The startup is currently developing its first commercial power plant in Wyoming, featuring the innovative Natrium reactor. This system uses molten sodium instead of water for cooling and includes a unique thermal energy storage system, helping stabilize output in ways traditional reactors cannot. The promise of reliable, scalable, and clean power has made TerraPower an attractive option for companies looking to meet future electricity needs while cutting emissions.
Why Nvidia invests in TerraPower: Demand for energy-efficient AI infrastructure
Tech companies like Nvidia increasingly require stable, high-output power sources to support data-hungry workloads, especially in AI and machine learning. Nvidia’s investment in TerraPower isn’t just about supporting green energy—it’s also a strategic play to ensure energy availability for its expanding ecosystem. Modern AI chips, such as Nvidia’s H100 and B200, are deployed in vast data centers that require consistent power 24/7. Renewables like wind and solar are vital but can’t always provide uninterrupted electricity. That’s where advanced nuclear comes in.
By choosing to back TerraPower, Nvidia is not just funding a power project—it’s endorsing a scalable solution to power the future of AI computing. The Natrium reactors TerraPower is building aim to produce 345 megawatts of electricity, with an energy storage component capable of delivering up to 500 megawatts for five hours. This hybrid approach combines base load reliability with flexible storage, helping bridge gaps in intermittent renewable generation. Nvidia’s investment can be seen as an effort to hedge against the unpredictability of future energy markets while staying aligned with sustainability goals.
How TerraPower’s Natrium design changes nuclear power dynamics
What sets TerraPower apart from traditional nuclear developers is its innovative approach to reactor design. The Natrium system ditches water in favor of molten sodium—a fluid that allows for safer, more flexible heat transfer. When electricity demand is low, the plant can continue running by heating excess sodium, which is stored in insulated tanks. Later, during peak hours, stored heat can be used to generate steam and ramp up electricity production quickly. This design elegantly sidesteps one of the long-standing issues with nuclear power: its lack of load-following capability.
TerraPower also benefits from regulatory and political momentum. Under the current U.S. administration, nuclear energy is being viewed more favorably as a low-emission, reliable energy source. Although the company is still waiting on approvals for its reactor site in Wyoming, executives are optimistic about obtaining the necessary permits within the next year. With an estimated three-year construction timeline once concrete is poured, the first Natrium plant could be operational well before the decade ends. However, challenges remain—costs could reach $4 billion, with up to half potentially covered by the Department of Energy.
What Nvidia and TerraPower’s partnership means for the energy-tech landscape
The collaboration between Nvidia and TerraPower marks a turning point in the convergence of high tech and clean energy. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday life, energy demand will only intensify. Nvidia’s proactive investment suggests that major players in the semiconductor industry are now thinking beyond silicon and into the world of energy security. This isn’t just a financial move; it’s a strategic commitment to sustainability, grid resilience, and long-term innovation.
For TerraPower, having Nvidia onboard adds credibility and capital at a critical moment. It’s a strong vote of confidence in the viability of small modular reactor (SMR) technologies and the role nuclear energy can play in a carbon-neutral future. For Nvidia, this partnership could potentially lead to deeper integrations—perhaps even custom-designed energy solutions for future data centers powered directly by TerraPower’s Natrium systems. The energy-tech synergy created here could serve as a model for how Silicon Valley and energy innovators collaborate to solve 21st-century challenges.
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