Data centre operators are being attracted to nuclear power because consistent generation from reactors will ensure that a data centre has access to sufficient electricity around-the-clock, while also providing access to a large source of CO2 emission-free power, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.

The EIA, a government agency, said that although nuclear plants are historically costly to build, they typically generate power at relatively low operating costs, with a single reactor having a capacity of 800 MW or more.

Nuclear power plants also produce electricity without directly emitting carbon dioxide, a consideration for technology firms investing in energy-intensive data centres that are trying to meet self-imposed emissions reduction goals.