Big tech turns to reactors with more companies expected to back target in coming months
A cross-industry group of large energy users including big tech companies Amazon, Google and Meta have signed a pledge supporting the goal of at least tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050.
The pledge, signed at the CERAWeek energy conference, in Houston, Texas, marks the first time major businesses beyond the nuclear sector have come together to publicly back an extensive and concerted expansion of nuclear power to meet increasing global energy demand, the London-based nuclear industry group the World Nuclear Association said.
The companies that signed the pledge urged other energy users to support the goal to triple nuclear energy.
The companies said they acknowledge government support and advocate for equal access to finance for nuclear energy.
Signatories at CERAWeek included Amazon, Google, Meta, Dow, Occidental Petroleum, Netherlands-based offshore energy contractor Allseas, Poland’s Orlen Synthos Green Energy and Japan-based industrial group IHI.
The WNA said the pledge is expected to gain more support over the coming months, reflecting growing interest in nuclear power from industries as diverse as maritime, aviation and oil and gas.
The goal to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 has earned support from 31 countries through a declaration initially signed by 25 countries at Cop28 and then by six more at Cop29, and more than 140 nuclear industry companies through an accompanying industry pledge. Fourteen of the world’s largest financial institutions backed the goal in September 2024.
According to the WNA, nuclear energy generates 9% of the world’s electricity from 439 commercial power reactors.
