google to bring shuttered nuclear power plant back from the dead

Google and NextEra Energy to Recommission Iowa Nuclear Plant

Google recently announced a collaboration with NextEra Energy to reactivate a nuclear power plant located in Iowa, which ceased operations in 2020.

For the past year, NextEra Energy has actively sought a partner to facilitate the reactor’s reopening. They have found this partner in Google, a company that is consistently expanding its use of zero-carbon energy sources to support its expanding data center infrastructure.

Deal Details Remain Undisclosed

The financial specifics of this agreement have not been publicly released by either Google or NextEra Energy.

The Duane Arnold Energy Center was originally taken offline following a severe derecho – a significant rainstorm – which caused damage to a component of the secondary containment system. This system is crucial for preventing the release of radioactive gases.

Power Generation Capacity

Initially, the power plant was engineered to produce 601 megawatts of electricity. Upon successful recommissioning, the modernized reactor is projected to generate an additional 14 megawatts.

NextEra anticipates restarting the facility by 2029. Google has committed to purchasing the majority of the generated power under a 25-year agreement. The remaining power will be sold to the Central Iowa Power Cooperative under comparable terms.

Currently, the cooperative holds a 20% ownership stake in the Duane Arnold power plant. However, NextEra has secured agreements to acquire the stakes held by both the cooperative and the other minority owner.

Renewed Interest in Nuclear Power

There has been a resurgence of interest in nuclear power, driven by the search for new energy sources among technology companies and data center developers. This demand has been spurred by a renewed growth in electricity consumption after a period of relative stagnation.

Similar Reactor Revitalization Efforts

The Iowa reactor is not the only one being brought back online. Last year, Microsoft announced a partnership with Constellation Energy to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island, which was shut down in 2019.

Constellation estimates the project will require an investment of $1.6 billion. If successful, the 835-megawatt reactor is expected to resume operations in 2028.

Benefits of Reactor Restarting

Reactivating existing reactors is viewed as a faster route to increasing nuclear energy capacity compared to constructing new power plants, potentially reducing the timeline by several years.

However, these projects still require substantial time for completion, placing them in competition with new natural gas power plants, which also have lengthy development periods.

Diversification of Energy Sources

Alongside nuclear power, companies like Google are also investing in solar energy and battery storage solutions. These technologies offer quicker deployment times – measured in months rather than years – enabling faster power delivery to new data centers.