UK government considering role for SMRs in AI expansion

A new AI Energy Council is to be established to study the opportunities for “renewable and innovative energy solutions, including small modular reactors” as part of the UK government’s plan for AI. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said AI (artificial intelligence) was a “defining opportunity” and outlined plans for specific ‘AI Growth Zones’ to be established to speed the build-out of AI data centres, “with enhanced access to power and support for planning approvals”. The first of these is set to be at Culham, near Oxford, home to the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), the JET project and a host of nuclear fusion companies and researchers. “The government and UKAEA will seek a private-sector partner who would develop one of the UK’s largest AI data centres, beginning with 100 MW of capacity and with plans to scale up to 500 MW.

Via