According to reports, as the demand for electricity in artificial intelligence data centers surges, the technology industry is striving to ensure stable power supply through nuclear power plants. The report stated that negotiations are currently underway with the owners of about one-third of the nuclear power plants in the United States. For example, Amazon's cloud department AWS is about to reach a direct supply agreement with Constellation Energy, which owns the largest nuclear power plant group in the United States. In March of this year, AWS acquired a nuclear-powered data center park in Pennsylvania.

Vistra and Public Service Enterprise Group are also negotiating with respect to 'behind-the-meter energy storage' transactions, whereby large customers directly obtain electricity from power plants. Behind-the-meter energy storage refers to energy storage systems installed and used within users (such as households, industrial or commercial buildings). These systems are used to store and manage electricity to meet users' energy needs and provide some additional benefits.

For the nuclear power industry, the rekindled interest is a good sign. The industry has been striving to compete with other renewable energies and cheap natural gas. According to the International Energy Agency, data centers and supporting networks currently account for 2-3% of global electricity consumption. Boston Consulting Group predicts that by 2030, such load may triple due to the huge demand of generative AI for computing power.

However, data center supply agreements may lead to the transfer of existing electricity resources, thereby raising the electricity prices of other customers. The goal of reducing emissions may also be affected, as customers turn to natural gas to replace transferred nuclear power. Patrick Cicero, a consumer advocate in Pennsylvania, expressed concern about the cost and reliability of Amazon's purchase of data centers in the state, because 'a large number of energy consumers seem to be the priority.'

The rise of artificial intelligence will drive the surging demand for electricity in data centers, but the Society of World Business Fellows warns that this may overload the power grid.