TerraPower’s nuclear reactor has a secret weapon for powering AI data centers

[Marlin]

TerraPower's nuclear reactor has a secret weapon for powering AI data centers

https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/terrapowers-nuclear-reactor-has-a-secret-weapon-for-powering-ai-data-centers/

[Core Content]

TerraPower plans to announce its first data center project this year, with construction expected to begin in 2027. The company utilizes a 345-megawatt molten salt-cooled reactor design that incorporates thermal energy storage. This system allows the plant to maintain constant reactor output while adjusting electricity generation to meet fluctuating grid demands.

The integration of molten sodium storage enables the reactor to handle rapid load swings common in AI data centers without cycling the nuclear core. By decoupling steam production from reactor operations, the design maintains high capacity factors while providing the flexibility required for intermittent power loads. This approach offers a potential solution for balancing high capital costs with the variable energy needs of modern computing infrastructure.

TerraPower's nuclear power plant possesses a strategic advantage over competitors, especially when chasing after data center deals.

Nuclear power startups have been pitching themselves as the antidote to what ails AI data centers: power that's always available. Bill Gates-founded TerraPower is one of the latest to throw its hat into that ring, with Bloomberg reporting that the startup plans to announce its first data center project this year.

TerraPower did not say who the customer will be, though in January, it announced that Meta had agreed to buy eight of its Natrium power plants. The data center project, expected to break ground in 2027, would be the company's second power plant, with its first already under construction in Wyoming.

Read the full article at TechCrunch:
https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/terrapowers-nuclear-reactor-has-a-secret-weapon-for-powering-ai-data-centers/