Amazon has revealed three new partnerships aimed at advancing small modular reactor (SMR) technology. SMRs are compact nuclear reactors that can be built faster and positioned closer to energy grids compared to traditional reactors. Recently, both Microsoft and Google have also made strides in nuclear energy investments.
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One of Amazon’s agreements focuses on developing four SMRs with Energy Northwest, a Washington-based coalition of public utilities. This project is expected to initially produce around 320 megawatts, with the potential to scale up to 960 megawatts. Another agreement partners Amazon with X-energy, which will provide advanced reactor designs for Energy Northwest’s initiative. Additionally, on the East Coast, Amazon is working with Dominion Energy to explore the feasibility of developing an SMR near Dominion’s nuclear power plant in Virginia. This project could supply up to 300 megawatts of power to the region.
Amazon shared more details on these initiatives in a video posted on YouTube. The company also highlighted the potential for job creation, noting that the Energy Northwest partnership alone could generate 1,000 temporary construction jobs and about 100 permanent roles once completed.
Earlier this year, Amazon announced that it had met its goal to match its global energy consumption with renewable energy seven years ahead of schedule. However, some employees and environmental experts questioned the claim, arguing that Amazon’s renewable energy investments mainly support the general power grid, not exclusively Amazon’s operations.
