Data centers are facing a growing energy crisis. AI-focused facilities now require 80 MW of power, more than double the 32 MW standard data centers consume. In the U.S., energy demand from data centers is expected to jump from 17 GW in 2022 to 35 GW by 2030, while grid interconnection delays stretch up to a decade. These challenges have pushed major tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft to turn to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for reliable, carbon-free power.
SMRs are compact nuclear reactors producing up to 300 MW of power. They are scalable, require less land (about 50 acres), and offer uninterrupted energy, unlike wind or solar. Their ability to operate independently of the grid and meet the 24/7 uptime needs of AI and high-performance computing workloads makes them a practical solution for modern data centers.
These advancements signify a shift in energy strategy, with SMRs poised to power data centers by the late 2020s and early 2030s. The market, valued at $6.9 billion in 2025, is projected to grow to $13.8 billion by 2032, creating new career pathways in nuclear energy and data center construction.
SMRs vs Renewable Energy for Data Centers: Power Reliability and Efficiency Comparison
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) bring a range of practical advantages to the table for powering modern data centers. These reactors address critical challenges like power reliability, efficiency, and cost control, making them a strong alternative to conventional energy sources. With their compact size, advanced safety features, and ability to function independently of the grid, SMRs are a game-changer for operators managing power-intensive resilient data center infrastructure.
One of the standout features of SMRs is their small land requirement. While a traditional solar or wind farm needs hundreds of acres to generate comparable power, an SMR facility typically occupies just 50 acres. This compact footprint not only saves space but also allows for on-site deployment, reducing transmission losses that can range from 5% to 10% over long distances.
Their modular design also makes them highly scalable. SMRs can be expanded in phases, with units ranging from 15 to 50 MW, allowing power capacity to grow in step with demand and revenue. This phased approach minimizes the risk of overbuilding and ensures efficient resource utilization.
Modern SMRs are designed with advanced safety systems that operate passively. These systems can automatically shut down the reactor in emergencies without requiring human intervention or external power, relying instead on natural processes like convection and gravity.
"These [SMR] designs are self-cooling – without power, without human intervention or any kind of active mechanical system."
- Brian Gitt, Head of Business Development, Oklo
Beyond safety, SMRs offer operational efficiency through their ability to produce additional thermal energy. This heat can be used for on-site cooling, backup power, or even district heating, maximizing fuel usage and reducing overall costs. Moreover, SMRs have longer refueling intervals - typically 3 to 7 years compared to the 1 to 2 years for traditional nuclear plants - further enhancing their efficiency.
When compared to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, SMRs offer several distinct advantages:
| Feature | Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) | Renewable Energy (Solar/Wind) |
|---|---|---|
| Power Reliability | 95%+ capacity factor; 24/7 baseload power | 25–35% capacity factor; weather-dependent |
| Land Use | Compact footprint (~50 acres); high energy density | Requires extensive land for equivalent output |
| Scalability | Modular expansion in 15–50 MW increments | Scalable but limited by land and grid capacity |
| Deployment Speed | Typically 5–10+ years (licensing and construction) | 1–3 years post-permitting |
| Grid Dependency | Can operate as an independent microgrid | Requires grid connection for balancing and storage |
While renewable energy often boasts quicker deployment times, SMRs excel in reliability and energy density - qualities that are crucial for running mission-critical operations like AI and high-performance computing workloads. These capabilities make SMRs an attractive option for data center operators looking for dependable and efficient power solutions.
The idea of nuclear-powered data centers is no longer just a concept. Through various partnerships, tech companies and energy developers are working together to ensure a steady supply of carbon-free power for the growing demands of AI and high-performance computing.
In June 2025, AWS and Talen Energy secured a 17-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for 1.92 GW of electricity from the Susquehanna nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. This deal, set to last until 2042, marks a shift from behind-the-meter setups - addressing concerns about grid reliability and costs.
AWS is investing $20 billion in Pennsylvania as part of this initiative, with plans to explore building new small modular reactors (SMRs) within Talen's existing nuclear facilities. The project will transition to a front-of-the-meter setup, where electricity flows through the grid before reaching the data center. This arrangement is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026.
"Our agreement with Amazon is designed to provide us with a long-term, steady source of revenue and greater balance sheet flexibility through contracted revenues."
- Mac McFarland, CEO, Talen Energy
This collaboration sets the tone for future partnerships in the industry.
Oklo is actively advancing its SMR projects, with a pipeline that includes a 1.2 GW project in Ohio, a master agreement with Switch for up to 12 GW, and a 500 MW deal with Equinix. These efforts are backed by over $10 billion in investments, with a customer pipeline exceeding 14 GW thanks to agreements with leading tech firms and data center operators.
In January 2026, Meta partnered with Oklo to develop a 1.2 GW power campus in Pike County, Ohio. This site will house 16 Aurora Powerhouse reactors, each producing 75 MW, across 206 acres. Meta is providing prepayments to secure nuclear fuel and expedite Phase 1 of the project, which aims to deliver 150 MW. The first reactors are expected to be operational by 2030.
Oklo is also breaking new ground in thermal management. In July 2025, the company teamed up with Vertiv to create integrated power and cooling systems. These systems will use steam from Oklo's nuclear plants to drive cooling solutions. A pilot demonstration is planned for Oklo's deployment at Idaho National Laboratory.
"This agreement is about delivering clean power, energy-efficient cooling, and infrastructure solutions purpose-built for AI factories, data centers, and high-density compute."
- Jacob DeWitte, Co-founder and CEO, Oklo
Other major players are also exploring SMR-powered data center innovations.
In August 2025, Google signed the first corporate SMR PPA with Kairos Power. The Hermes 2 project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, will utilize Generation IV molten salt-cooled reactor technology to initially supply 50 MW to the Tennessee Valley Authority system by 2030. The project aims to scale up to 500 MW to support Google's data center operations. This represents a significant step forward for advanced reactor designs that go beyond traditional light-water technology.
Recent regulatory developments are helping to accelerate SMR deployment. NuScale remains the only SMR developer with full Nuclear Regulatory Commission design certification, having received approval for its updated 77 MWe design in May 2025. Kairos Power also achieved a milestone in December 2023, securing a construction permit for its Hermes demonstration reactor - the first permit for a non-light-water reactor in over 50 years.
Federal executive orders issued in May 2025 now mandate an 18-month maximum review timeline for new reactor applications, further speeding up the process. Additionally, the Tennessee Valley Authority has submitted a construction permit application for the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR at its Clinch River site, aiming for deployment in the late 2020s.
However, challenges remain. A limited domestic supply of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel continues to slow progress. While SMRs are expected to power data centers significantly by the early 2030s, some projects, like Oklo's Aurora, are targeting pilot operations as early as 2027 or 2028. The SMR market, valued at $6.9 billion in 2025, is projected to grow to $13.8 billion by 2032 as more projects transition from planning to construction. These advancements highlight the increasing demand for skilled professionals in both the nuclear and data center sectors, emphasizing the need for specialized talent to drive this transformation.
Building nuclear-powered data centers demands a mix of traditional construction expertise and advanced nuclear engineering. These roles must align SMR technology with the unique needs of mission-critical facilities while adhering to strict safety and regulatory standards.
Nuclear-capable civil and site engineers lead the charge in campus planning, focusing on security setbacks and secure underground corridors for distributing power and cooling water. Structural engineers must be well-versed in nuclear-grade criteria, specifically ASCE 4 and ASCE 43 standards, which dictate seismic and performance-based requirements. These projects demand quality assurance far beyond typical industrial builds.
Geotechnical engineers handle in-depth site assessments, including shear-wave velocity profiling and liquefaction studies, to meet the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) geological and hydrogeologic standards. Environmental engineers navigate the complexities of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and NRC licensing, including preparing environmental impact statements.
On the nuclear technology front, principal nuclear engineers take on evaluating SMR designs, crafting fuel strategy roadmaps, and managing regulatory relationships with the Department of Energy (DOE). A notable example is AWS’s recruitment of a Principal Nuclear Engineer in September 2024, following its $650 million acquisition of Talen Energy's campus. This role combines utility-scale and SMR design expertise to develop internal nuclear strategies.
MEP specialists design critical systems like cooling towers, dry-cooling arrays, and electrical interconnections between reactors and data center switchyards. These roles require a deep understanding of how to integrate nuclear power with the high-density computing needs of AI and cloud infrastructure.
These positions underscore the growing demand for specialized talent, an issue explored further in the next section.
Finding professionals with expertise in both nuclear-grade engineering and data center construction is no small feat. The standards for these roles are far more rigorous than those of typical industrial projects.
The nuclear industry’s talent pool has thinned significantly due to a decades-long hiatus in nuclear construction during the 1980s and 1990s. This has forced companies to rebuild specialized engineering capabilities from scratch. The shortage is particularly challenging for roles requiring regulatory expertise, as navigating the NRC, DOE, and FERC’s permitting and authorization processes remains a significant bottleneck for project timelines.
To address this, major tech companies are actively recruiting senior leaders from traditional nuclear utilities and modular reactor firms. For example, in September 2023, Microsoft brought on Archie Manoharan from Ultra Safe Nuclear as Director of Nuclear Technologies and Erin Henderson from the Tennessee Valley Authority as Head of Nuclear Development Acceleration. These hires reflect a shift toward building in-house nuclear teams rather than relying solely on third-party expertise.
iRecruit.co offers tailored hiring solutions to overcome these recruitment challenges, focusing on mission-critical infrastructure roles. The platform maintains a pool of pre-qualified candidates with expertise in both nuclear engineering and data center construction, making it easier to fill positions that require this rare combination of skills.
Their success-based pricing model provides flexibility for companies tackling the long timelines typical of nuclear projects. For a single opening, clients pay no monthly fee and only a 25% success fee upon hire, or 3% monthly for 12 months. For larger hiring needs, the 2 Open Roles plan offers scaled recruitment at $8,000 per month ($4,000 per role) with a reduced 20% success fee.
iRecruit.co’s specialized focus extends to critical positions like nuclear-capable civil engineers, MEP specialists skilled in nuclear integration, and project managers adept at coordinating the parallel timelines of SMR construction and data center buildouts. This targeted approach helps companies assemble the multidisciplinary teams needed to execute these groundbreaking projects effectively.
The small modular reactor (SMR) market is quickly moving from theory to action. By late 2025, tech companies had invested over $10 billion in nuclear partnerships, setting the stage for deployment in three phases: early demonstration units between 2027 and 2028, initial commercial integrations with data centers in the late 2020s, and broader commercial use by the mid-2030s.
Federal policies are helping to speed up this process. Starting in May 2025, new guidelines capped the NRC’s review period at just 18 months, a massive improvement from the usual 5–7 years. Alongside this, modular factory-based construction is expected to reduce build times to 24–36 months. The U.S. has set its sights on achieving 400 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, while data center power needs are projected to surge to 106 GW by 2035 - almost three times the demand seen in 2025.
High-profile contracts are adding momentum to this timeline, with several projects aiming to go live in the late 2020s and early 2030s.
As SMR deployment picks up speed, workforce needs are evolving. The industry is adopting a "shipyard" or assembly-line manufacturing model, creating opportunities in modular assembly, nuclear supply chain logistics, and factory-based quality control. This shift demands expertise that blends nuclear engineering with data center construction.
New leadership roles are also emerging within major tech firms. For example, in September 2023, Microsoft began recruiting for a Principal Program Manager of Nuclear Technology. This position, part of the energy innovation team led by P. Todd Noe, focuses on developing a global SMR and microreactor strategy to power Microsoft Cloud and AI data centers. Responsibilities include evaluating reactor integration and managing technology partnerships. As P. Todd Noe put it:
"This is not just a job, it is a challenge. By joining us, you will be part of a global movement that is transforming the way we produce and consume energy."
The construction industry is also adapting. In February 2026, Clayco announced plans to oversee delivery for a groundbreaking nuclear-powered AI data center campus at the Idaho National Laboratory. This project involves a phased approach, starting with the data center and followed by a 60 MW MK60 SMR deployment. Bob Clark, Clayco’s Executive Chairman and Founder, highlighted the importance of reliable project execution:
"Successful DOE submissions require more than innovative energy concepts - they require confidence that projects can be delivered safely, efficiently, and at scale."
Professionals entering this field will need to master both nuclear-grade design standards, such as ASCE 4 and ASCE 43, and the fundamentals of data center construction. Engineers will focus on nuclear-specific requirements, while project managers will juggle the simultaneous timelines of SMR production and data center construction.
New roles are also emerging in domestic HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) production, which is essential for many SMR designs but currently limited to pilot-scale operations. By 2030, the demand for HALEU is expected to reach 40 metric tons, creating opportunities in nuclear fuel supply chain management. In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce formalized a strategic partnership to roll out an initial fleet of reactors worth at least $80 billion, signaling a long-term need for specialized talent.
SMR-powered data centers are reshaping critical infrastructure by delivering around-the-clock power with a footprint that’s roughly 50 times more power-efficient per square foot than rooftop solar. With 22 GW of SMR projects already in development globally, the focus is shifting from testing to large-scale deployment.
Given the complexity of regulations, extended timelines, and the specialized skills required, early recruitment and workforce planning are essential. As the first commercial units approach operation in 2027–2028, competition for nuclear-qualified professionals will only intensify. Aligning hiring strategies with these developments will be key to meeting the industry’s ambitious goals.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) come equipped with advanced safety features, including passive systems that function automatically - no human input or external power required. Thanks to their modular design, SMRs offer a high degree of reliability and adhere to strict regulatory standards to ensure safe operation.
While concerns about potential leaks or accidents are valid, SMRs undergo extensive safety assessments to address these risks. Additionally, containment systems are specifically designed to minimize any potential hazards. When safety protocols are followed correctly, SMRs can be safely integrated even in close proximity to facilities like data centers.
The delays in deploying SMR-powered data centers largely arise from the complexities of nuclear reactor development. Frequent design changes, strict regulatory requirements, and a shortage of skilled workers contribute to these setbacks. In fact, many nuclear projects end up taking as much as 2.5 times longer than initially planned. Adding to the challenge, an aging workforce with increasing retirements and the pressure to meet compliance standards further extend timelines. Together, these technical, regulatory, and workforce-related issues create significant roadblocks for on-time project completion.
Jobs in nuclear engineering, modular construction, and project delivery are expected to see growing demand as SMR (Small Modular Reactor) data centers become more prominent. These roles will focus on critical tasks like maintaining safety standards, ensuring regulatory compliance, and seamlessly incorporating nuclear technology into operational workflows. Expertise in areas such as geotechnical analysis and modular assembly will also play a pivotal role.
To tackle potential workforce shortages, industries like aerospace could serve as a valuable talent pool. Additionally, leveraging digital tools to enhance coordination and efficiency may help bridge gaps in expertise and streamline project execution.
