Utah Project Uses Research Reactor to Power AI Data Center
A groundbreaking experiment in Utah aims to utilize a research reactor for electricity generation to power AI data centers. This initiative, led by the University of Utah and Elemental Nuclear Energy Corporation, represents a potential shift in small nuclear reactor applications.
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The University of Utah is collaborating with Elemental Nuclear Energy Corporation in a project to connect a TRIGA reactor to an AI data center. This reactor, operational since 1975, has primarily been used for research, with its thermal output typically wasted.
In this new experiment, a compact Brayton cycle generator will convert some of the reactor's heat into electricity. The expected output is about 2-3 kilowatts, significantly lower than the hundreds of megawatts required for large data centers, yet seen as a vital first step.
The initiative is a proof-of-concept aimed at demonstrating that small reactors can provide usable power for modern computing. The goal is to develop commercial microreactors, with a target market readiness around 2030-2031. This development comes amid rising global energy demands from AI and data centers, with small modular reactors being explored as viable alternatives to traditional power sources.
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