Deep Atomic says MK60 will reduce costs and employment times as big tech turns to nuclear
A Switzerland-based nuclear energy startup has revealed plans for a compact small modular reactor (SMR) specifically aimed at powering the growing number of energy hungry data centres.
Deep Atomic said its MK60 light-water reactor offers a compact and scalable energy solution, tailored to the unique needs of modern and future data centres, which support cloud services, cryptocurrency operations and AI applications.
The Zurich-headquartered startup said each unit is capable of producing up to 60 MW of electricity, with an additional 60 MW available for cooling.
The plant is designed to be installed onsite at data centres, delivering reliable zero-carbon electricity and energy-efficient cooling.
Deep Atomic said the plant’s modular design and factory production will reduce costs and deployment times. It said the reactor will help expand digital infrastructure in areas with limited grid access.
Deep Atomic said that as AI advances, and companies like Google, Amazon and Meta attract ever more users to a growing range of digital services, the global demand for computing power is skyrocketing. This, in turn, is leading to unsustainable energy consumption and carbon emissions from digital infrastructure.
“Data centres are the backbone of digital innovation, but their massive energy needs have become the critical bottleneck blocking growth,” said William Theron, Deep Atomic’s founder and chief executive officer.
The decision to opt for a 60 MW design, in contrast to the larger 300 MW SMRs typical in the industry, is strategic, Deep Atomic said. These units are large enough to sustain significant computer infrastructure but small enough for modular deployment, thus reducing initial capital outlay and project risk.
Deep Atomic head of engineering Freddy Mondale said that “a 60 MW reactor with additional 60 MW of cooling capacity hits a sweet spot for data centres”.
“It’s large enough to power significant compute infrastructure, yet small enough to allow for modular deployment and scaling,” he said.
Small Modular Reactors And Big Tech
The move comes as the power required to run ever-expanding data centres – especially with the advent of power-hungry artificial intelligence (AI) – becomes a greater concern.
Tech giants such as Microsoft are grappling with massive power needs as they scale up artificial intelligence. Constellation Energy recently unveiled plans to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania in 2028 through an agreement with Microsoft.
Google, Amazon and Oracle have all said they plan to use next-generation small nuclear reactors.
Earlier this month, Google signed what it said was a “world first” deal to buy nuclear energy from SMRs being developed by Kairos Power to power its AI technology.
Soon afterwards Amazon Web Services announced it had signed agreements with Dominion Energy and X-energy to acquire 620 MW of generation capacity from SMRs as part of efforts to meet its growing energy needs and net zero commitments.
During an earnings call of software giant Oracle, its chief technology officer Larry Ellison revealed that the company is looking at using power from three SMRs to run a planned 1,000 MW AI data centre.
According to Deep Atomic a 60 MW reactor with additional 60 MW of cooling capacity hits ‘a sweet spot’ for data centres. Courtesy Deep Atomic.
