TerraPower, the American nuclear innovation company founded by Bill Gates in 2006, recently raised $650 million in funding to continue developing the advanced reactor project under construction in Wyoming. Investors include Nvidia Corp.'s venture capital arm NVentures and South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai.
TerraPower founded by Bill Gates
TerraPower is an American nuclear innovation company founded by Bill Gates in 2006, with a mission to drive the global energy transition through advanced nuclear technology, focusing particularly on decarbonization and energy stability.
TerraPower is building the first Natrium nuclear power plant in Wyoming, USA. This reactor combines liquid sodium cooling with molten salt storage, allowing it to rapidly increase output power when needed to support intermittent issues with renewable energy. It has a capacity of 345 MW, situated between large nuclear and SMR. The company began constructing the non-nuclear part of the project a year ago, with the expectation of obtaining federal approval for reactor construction in 2026.
The highlight of Natrium is its ability to store excess heat when electricity demand is low and convert it back to electricity when demand rises, allowing nuclear energy to respond more flexibly to intermittent demand. Major investors include Cascade Investment, Khosla Ventures, and steel giant ArcelorMittal.
Nvidia invests in TerraPower, will AI and nuclear energy be able to integrate across sectors?
According to Bloomberg reports, TerraPower has completed $650 million in financing, with investors including AI giant Nvidia Corp.'s venture capital arm NVentures and South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai.
Nvidia's decision to support the company reflects the increasingly close ties between the tech industry and nuclear energy companies. The tech industry calls for the use of carbon-free power to energize data centers and artificial intelligence, while nuclear energy companies are committed to building reactors that can provide clean power around the clock.
Mohamed Siddeek, head of NVentures, stated in a statement:
As artificial intelligence continues to transform various industries, nuclear energy will become a more important energy source driving the development of these capabilities.
The addition of Nvidia not only symbolizes the strong demand for AI that cannot be met without the help of nuclear energy, but also raises expectations for the cross-border integration of AI and nuclear energy. Whether future nuclear power plants can combine deep learning with real-time monitoring technology to enhance safety and efficiency is also an exciting prospect.
This article Nvidia invests in TerraPower founded by Bill Gates, will AI and nuclear energy be able to integrate across sectors? Originally appeared on Chain News ABMedia.