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Microsoft ‘Buys’ Nuclear Power Plant to Run AI – and it’s Showing Us the Future

by Nick Bowler
2 October 2024 9:00 AM

On September 20th there was an announcement by a little known energy company located in Baltimore Pennsylvania:

Constellation announced today the signing of a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft that will pave the way for the launch of the Crane Clean Energy Centre (CCEC) and restart of Three Mile Island Unit 1, which operated at industry-leading levels of safety and reliability for decades before being shut down for economic reasons exactly five years ago today. Under the agreement, Microsoft will purchase energy from the renewed plant as part of its goal to help match the power its data centers in PJM use with carbon-free energy.

There are two highly significant things about this announcement. The first is that the company operates a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island, the site of one of the world’s biggest nuclear accidents. The reactor was due to be decommissioned in the next few years and the plant shut down completely, but it now has been given a new lease of life with this deal. If Constellation gains approval from its local authorities to go ahead with the project, it will truly be a turning point for the future of nuclear energy.

The second significant fact is that the purchaser of the entire output of this reactor for the next 20 years is Microsoft. The technology giant will build a new plant to develop AI nearby, and it will need the output of a nuclear reactor to guarantee the energy requirements of the project.

The anticipated huge surge in energy demand from this sector (all of which has to be in the form of electricity) is prompting AI companies to make deals with energy companies to secure their slice of the cake in a world where energy security is becoming less and less certain.

AI is set to surpass even the huge energy consumption requirements of digital crypto-currency transactions and storage.

It takes a very long time to build a new nuclear power station, so the spotlight is now turning to small modular reactors (SMRs) for a faster turnaround. These can be built and commissioned a great deal more quickly than conventional reactors, assuming of course that the political will is there to approve their construction in the first place.

There are many companies eyeing the opportunity presented by this new technology. Amongst others, Rolls Royce is getting in on the act – with an emphasis already on “clean and affordable”, tying the technology in to the green revolution in order to win Government backing.

All of this provides both a problem and a solution for the Labour Government’s drive towards Net Zero. It is becoming increasingly clear to many people that the limitations and costs of Net Zero are going to far outweigh the benefits of trying to reach the lofty goals contained in the eco-aspirations of the current Government.

In particular, as many articles on this website have attested to, it will be impossible to rely on renewable sources of energy without a constant power backup. As fossil fuels are ruled out, that leaves only one currently viable source at reasonable price levels: nuclear energy.

However, nuclear energy comes with a severe political taint due to a long history of fear-mongering and negativity, associated for decades with Labour party opposition to the Trident missile system.

The political activism group Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), which opposes all forms of nuclear energy, saw a surge in membership when Tony Blair announced plans to expand U.K. nuclear power capacity in 2007.

This rekindling of public anxiety at that time must contain a warning to the Labour Government when it comes to try to ‘sell’ nuclear to its supporters and the public. But how much choice will it really have in the matter? The catalyst for the change is coming from the AI revolution, which doesn’t look like it has any intention of being stopped in its tracks.

This is what Yann lecCun, the Chief AI Scientist at Meta had to say about the deal with Constellation:

AI datacentres will be built next to energy production sites that can produce gigawatt-scale, low-cost, low-emission electricity continuously.

Basically, next to nuclear power plants.

The advantage is that there is no need for expensive and wasteful long-distance distribution infrastructure.

Note: yes, solar and wind are nice and all, but they require lots of land and massive-scale energy storage systems for when there is too little sun and/or wind. Neither simple nor cheap.

AI datacenters will be built next to energy production sites that can produce gigawatt-scale, low-cost, low-emission electricity continuously.
Basically, next to nuclear power plants.
The advantage is that there is no need for expensive and wasteful long-distance distribution… https://t.co/bVxNmYZiQh

— Yann LeCun (@ylecun) September 22, 2024

AI and nuclear energy are a marriage made in heaven it seems. It holds out hope for a more sensible energy policy in the U.K. to be developed after all. But expect to see all kinds of hand-wringing and hypocritical statements from the Government as it tries to make nuclear power palatable to its Left-wing supporters.

Tags: AILabourMicrosoftNet ZeroNuclear power

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35 Comments
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varmint
varmint
7 months ago

This article appeared last week then was deleted. Is this the final draft then?

7
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soundofreason
soundofreason
7 months ago

In particular, as many articles on this website have attested to, it will be impossible to rely on renewable sources of energy without a constant power backup. As fossil fuels are ruled out, that leaves only one currently viable source at reasonable price levels: nuclear energy.

But, as many articles have pointed out, if we have nuclear power as a ‘constant backup’ we will not need ‘to rely on renewable sources’ (if by that we mean wind and solar). So we can save money and the environment by scrapping the wind and solar farms and just building nuclear capacity.

Let’s get on with it if we’re going to.

16
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huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
7 months ago
Reply to  soundofreason

The problem with this ample logic is that it reduces this government’s ability to fleece us via our energy bills. Some work arounds will be needed in order to continue our impoverishment which is the sole purpose of “green energy.”

I wonder if the requirements for electricity on tap 24 / 7 in their coming wholly digital world are starting to percolate through the mini brains of the executive?

10
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huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
7 months ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

Imagine the outrage if DWP were unable to make the millions of pounds of weekly benefit payments to those of the claimant community retired to such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and the rest. The fall out would be enough to bring down a government.

4
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soundofreason
soundofreason
7 months ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

Might cause massive economic hardship in Pakistan.

2
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Jack the dog
Jack the dog
7 months ago
Reply to  soundofreason

Pass me the world’s smallest violin.

1
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
7 months ago
Reply to  soundofreason

I thought that in the late 1960s!

While we have Arts and Humanities graduates in charge, especially PPE and History graduates, there’s little hope. They don’t know how to use a Project Plan.

0
0
Steve-Devon
Steve-Devon
7 months ago

”AI and nuclear energy are a marriage made in heaven it seems.” or possibly a Faustian pact of darkness?

5
-1
soundofreason
soundofreason
7 months ago
Reply to  Steve-Devon

Perhaps we could have the AI run the nuclear power plant to supply its own power? Then of course it would not be possible for puny humans to interfere or turn it off… I feel a SciFi film plot coming on.

5
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A. Contrarian
A. Contrarian
7 months ago

Catastrophic climate change… very visible climate crisis… Turn your lights off for an hour every night to save power… Everyone’s got to be forced to have heat pumps and electric cars and power outages when the wind isn’t blowing…

But we need AI so much, it’s so essential to human life, that we can move heaven and earth to supply the power in any way possible and it’s not contributing to environmental issues AT ALL.

Now go away and turn your heating down or all your grandchildren will die.

15
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stewart
stewart
7 months ago
Reply to  A. Contrarian

This is absolutely right and I’m amazed it isn’t talked about more by people who oppose climate policies.

If climate change is such a threat to humanity and high energy consumption is the main driver of climate change (it’s not but just for the sake of argument) then why is every last little thing in our lives being electronified?

Here are a few petty but irritating (to me) examples:

Take any appliance. Where before you turned a knob, now you have to scroll through a menus on a screen and digitally give the command.

Where before you raised an lowered the car boot by yourself, why do new supposedly more environmentally friendly cars do it for you electrically at the push of a button?

Where before you switched lights on and off in your house physically with the push of a button, why are they pushing on us techy stuff that allows you to do it from your phone or from a control panel somewhere?

And on and on. It’s like every little nook and cranny of our lives is going to involve some sort of digital screen from which we issue commands and which consumes more electricity. Instead of, you know, pressing buttons which use muscle energy.

5
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transmissionofflame
transmissionofflame
7 months ago
Reply to  stewart

Good points. Maybe some of the elites like AI because they think it will help them control the world, or they like it because they think it’s cool and don’t care whether it’s “eco friendly” or not because it won’t be available to the masses. I also get the impression that eco loons think the internet is powered by unicorn farts or that electricity is somehow “clean” – and of course we’re told that electricity generated by certain means is much better for the planet than others. But it’s not consistent with “consume less”.

5
0
A. Contrarian
A. Contrarian
7 months ago
Reply to  transmissionofflame

I do think lots of people think electricity must be clean and good because of the push for electric cars to “save the environment”.

3
0
transmissionofflame
transmissionofflame
7 months ago
Reply to  A. Contrarian

It just comes out of the wall! 15 minute cities but then you get everything delivered from Amazon, whose servers require immense power, and you get all your entertainment from the Internet (powered by unicorn farts).

4
0
A. Contrarian
A. Contrarian
7 months ago
Reply to  stewart

Absolutely agree, I say this to people ALL THE TIME and they largely look at me like I’m mad. We recently had to buy a new washing machine and it was impossible to get one without a stupid big screen that lights up with your options every time you try to use it. Why? A bog standard knob works totally fine. Toothbrushes are another example. Manual works fine if you’re thorough. Zoom meetings for everything. And as for the constant push from mobile companies to sign up to their plans to get the latest and greatest new mobile phone every single year…!! Don’t get me started.

I am hanging on to my 16 year old car as long as possible because almost any upgrade will involve a great big screen through which I will now have to do almost everything I want to do, including turning the radio on… sigh.

Last edited 7 months ago by A. Contrarian
1
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Purpleone
Purpleone
7 months ago
Reply to  A. Contrarian

To be fair, this is private money selecting (and investing) in a solution to suit their demand. It’s not a state energy choice. The fact they have chosen an established and proven energy source is the interesting bit, not some intermittent ‘unreliables’, speaks volumes in itself…

Last edited 7 months ago by Purpleone
3
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A. Contrarian
A. Contrarian
7 months ago
Reply to  Purpleone

A fair point, but why is no one else complaining about it if we’re in such dire straits?

2
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
7 months ago
Reply to  A. Contrarian

The BBC haven’t told them.

1
0
Purpleone
Purpleone
7 months ago
Reply to  A. Contrarian

No money in telling the truth perhaps? Peopl want to ‘believe’ and ‘hope’ it’ll all be fine? Engineering and physics based facts are out of fashion at present…

0
0
Sforzesca
Sforzesca
7 months ago

Nuclear is the answer then, maybe until the next one goes pop.
I mean nuclear power station accidents are of course quite rare –

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_and_radiation_accidents_and_incidents

For the life of me I cannot understand why Thorium isn’t used for fuel. Far less nasty by products – for example plutonium isn’t one.
Maybe that’s why.

Last edited 7 months ago by Sforzesca
0
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Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
7 months ago
Reply to  Sforzesca

It’s because it takes a long time to develop a new nuclear design, and build it. And lots of of money to finance it. Then there’s the skilling up the workforce, enhancing their Engineering skills, building up the Supply Chain for the materials, and the support of the politicians and the public who vote them in.

And when the BBC and other Environmental Pressure Groups continually campaign against it, any farsighted project eventually get canned, and sold off to competitors.

And, you don’t really want it, do you?

You just like the idea of cheap power. 🙂

Well you’ve got it: solar, and windfarms.

Didn’t you know, it’s so cheap, it’s almost free. 🙂

2
0
Purpleone
Purpleone
7 months ago
Reply to  Sforzesca

The only reason we had the first wave of nuclear stations was literally to make plutonium… the commercial power was a nice side effect!

Got to hand it to the French, they put their money where their mouth was investing properly in nuclear long term, and now they reap the long-term rewards

0
0
Sforzesca
Sforzesca
7 months ago

Food for thought about AI –

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2019/04/20/our-entire-ai-revolution-is-built-on-a-correlation-house-of-cards/

2
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
7 months ago
Reply to  Sforzesca

So, AI is no different to Arts and Humanities graduates: it appears to act intelligently, but has no understanding, and cannot explain its decision in simple terms.

I was thinking about the NET Zero policies in particular.

1
0
Dorsetman
Dorsetman
7 months ago

To think we had places like Winfrith opened in the 60’s to research reactor design…
Could have been world leaders in clean, safe, cheap exportable energy. Thousands of jobs, energy security for our homes and industries, AI giants flocking to the UK for their power needs…
Ah well at least we’ve got our windmills in the sea and a place for Chris Packham to do Springwatch from.

5
0
Richard Austin
Richard Austin
7 months ago
Reply to  Dorsetman

Well, he isn’t going to be doing much Spring Watch when his ilk have stamped Bomb Farms all over the countryside he so claims to revere.

2
0
Dorsetman
Dorsetman
7 months ago
Reply to  Richard Austin

Always makes me smile when he broadcasts from Arne bird reserve as literally in the background is the largest onshore oil field in Western Europe. Think the irony is lost on him

0
0
Douglas Brodie
Douglas Brodie
7 months ago

Miliband and the Net Zero zealots spurn nuclear power precisely because it works well and would make their cult of so-called renewables redundant.

It should be obvious to anyone with a functioning brain that net zero fossil fuels by 2050 coupled with antipathy to nuclear power and “reliance” on short-lifespan, toxically non-recyclable, expensive to construct and integrate, heavily resource-depleting, inefficient, unreliable, weather-dependent renewables will lead to economic collapse and mass privation.

2
0
Cotfordtags
Cotfordtags
7 months ago
Reply to  Douglas Brodie

And there’s no money in nuclear for a person with the suspiciously same surname as millipede, whereas a load of the cash he plans to spaff on batteries in a Field will be going straight into the pocket of a certain resident of New York.

0
0
Jack the dog
Jack the dog
7 months ago

You are taking the proverbial surely?

A f*cking nuclear power plant just to power computerised call centers? And generate illiterate nonsense on fb and linked in?

2
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
7 months ago
Reply to  Jack the dog

It’ll make money!

So what’s your problem?

1
0
Jabby Mcstiff
Jabby Mcstiff
7 months ago

It is all doomed to fail because it is predicated on many false premises and it won’t take long to wither but they will make our lives hell in the meantime. On the bright side it has been 12960 years since the last time things got this messed up and so very soon we should reach rock bottom and then the slow climb out of the kali yuga but at least it will be in the right direction and it might start as early as next March. All of this agenda is being massively disinvested by the people in the know.

1
0
Cotfordtags
Cotfordtags
7 months ago

And here we have the problem to the solution. If all the tech companies are protecting their supply, when the power goes, their outputs continue but we will not be able to access the output because we won’t have the power to operate our computers and WiFi.

1
0
Purpleone
Purpleone
7 months ago
Reply to  Cotfordtags

Interesting that they want to close couple this much though – almost like they expect the grid to become less reliable in the future…

0
0
kev
kev
7 months ago

Animal farm anyone

Labour and the Left say Nuclear power is bad, until they say its good.

Had we commissioned something like 20 nuclear power plants at the turn of the century, they would all be online now producing reliable “clean” energy, and we could maybe justify the shutting down of coal power stations, and the older gas power stations.

But the other “renewable” sources – No!
Not at scale. Not now, not ever!

2
0

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