Proposed Use of Retired Naval Reactors for Data Center Power Faces Challenges
HGP's proposal to repurpose retired naval reactors for data center power faces significant hurdles, including the use of weapons-grade uranium, lack of licensing pathways, and the need for extensive reconstruction to meet civilian safety standards. The project, estimated to cost between $1 million and $4 million per megawatt and taking a decade to complete, aims to incorporate a revenue share with the government and a decommissioning fund. Despite these challenges, the maritime cooling concept could offer reduced energy consumption compared to traditional land-based data centers.
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HGP proposes rewiring retired naval reactors for data centers at a cost of $1 million to $4 million per megawatt, requiring a decade to complete through five stages. The plan includes a revenue share with the government and a decommissioning fund.
However, the reactors use weapons-grade uranium, which civilian entities cannot possess, and licensing pathways are lacking. Additionally, military-designed systems would need complete reconstruction to meet civilian safety standards, negating cost benefits. Despite these challenges, the maritime cooling concept could reduce energy consumption compared to land-based data centers.
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