Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
The resurgence of nuclear energy is driven by the massive power demands of AI data centers. Needing 150 GW annually by 2030 with a 100 GW gap by 2028. This means adding all of the current power of the USA and Europe in the 2030s.
Covering the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) initiative to fast-track 11 companies for pilot reactors achieving criticality by 2026.
Nuclear fission (Gen 3 reactors) as 100x safer than coal/gas, with only three major accidents in 70 years versus countless fossil fuel disasters; differences between fission (proven, scalable) and fusion (e.g., Helion Energy's ambitious but unproven tech aiming for 2028, still not generating usable electricity).
Various startups like Thorcon, Copenhagen Atomics, Oklo, TerraPower (Bill Gates-backed), Deep Fission, and others.
The U.S. lags China building Gen 3 reactors quickly,
Nuclear won't displace solar/wind/oil/gas soon due to scaling challenges, but it's essential for AI's energy boom, requiring massive uranium expansion.
Follow Brian Wang on NextBigFuture.com
Follow Brian Wang on X.com/@NextBigFuture
This channel brings you the most important science and technology breakthroughs and analysis at least once per week.
The resurgence of nuclear energy is driven by the massive power demands of AI data centers. Needing 150 GW annually by 2030 with a 100 GW gap by 2028. This means adding all of the current power of the USA and Europe in the 2030s.
Covering the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) initiative to fast-track 11 companies for pilot reactors achieving criticality by 2026.
Nuclear fission (Gen 3 reactors) as 100x safer than coal/gas, with only three major accidents in 70 years versus countless fossil fuel disasters; differences between fission (proven, scalable) and fusion (e.g., Helion Energy's ambitious but unproven tech aiming for 2028, still not generating usable electricity).
Various startups like Thorcon, Copenhagen Atomics, Oklo, TerraPower (Bill Gates-backed), Deep Fission, and others.
The U.S. lags China building Gen 3 reactors quickly,
Nuclear won't displace solar/wind/oil/gas soon due to scaling challenges, but it's essential for AI's energy boom, requiring massive uranium expansion.
Follow Brian Wang on NextBigFuture.com
Follow Brian Wang on X.com/@NextBigFuture
This channel brings you the most important science and technology breakthroughs and analysis at least once per week.
