1. Amazon invested in SMR startup X-Energy and plans to develop around 300 megawatts of nuclear capacity in the Pacific Northwest and Virginia.
  2. Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund led a $500 million Series C-1 round for X-Energy, alongside investors like Citadel’s Ken Griffin and the University of Michigan.

Amazon has announced its entry into the nuclear power space, joining tech giants Microsoft and Google in supporting nuclear energy initiatives. The company revealed three significant deals, including an investment in SMR startup X-Energy and two development agreements aimed at adding approximately 300 megawatts of capacity in the Pacific Northwest and Virginia—key data center regions.

The two development deals focus on building small modular reactors (SMRs). These reactors, which generate a fraction of the power produced by traditional nuclear plants, are designed to be faster and more cost-effective to construct. Amazon expects these SMRs to begin producing electricity by the early 2030s.

In partnership with the Energy Northwest consortium, Amazon plans to construct four SMRs in the Pacific Northwest, generating around 320 megawatts combined. The project has the potential for future expansion to a total of 960 megawatts, which could power up to 1 million homes.

In Virginia, Amazon and Dominion have agreed to explore developing 300 megawatts of SMR capacity near the North Anna site, located between Washington, D.C., and Richmond.

The technology for these reactors will likely come from X-Energy, a Maryland-based SMR company. Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund led X-Energy's latest $500 million Series C-1 round, which also saw contributions from Citadel’s Ken Griffin, NGP, and the University of Michigan.

X-Energy’s high-temperature gas-cooled reactors use TRISO fuel, which is considered safer and more efficient. Their first reactor is set to be built at a Dow plant in Texas. This move signals Amazon’s commitment to decarbonizing its operations while competing with other carbon-free energy sources like solar, wind, and upcoming nuclear fusion technologies.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah