The Rise of SMR to meet AI's Insatiable Energy Demands

The Rise of SMR to meet AI's Insatiable Energy Demands

Jun 2, 2025

Jun 2, 2025

By Adam Clode, CEO, Executive Director

By Adam Clode, CEO, Executive Director

The global AI boom is reshaping not only how we work and live, but also how we power the future. Behind the sleek interfaces of large language models, generative algorithms, and real-time automation systems lies an energy challenge of unprecedented scale. As AI workloads grow exponentially, so too does the demand for secure, scalable, and low-carbon electricity.

The Hidden Cost of Intelligence: Power

According to recent projections, data centers could consume as much as 8%–10% of global electricity by 2030, largely driven by AI training and inference. Training a single large AI model can require megawatt-hours of electricity, comparable to the annual consumption of hundreds of homes. The problem isn't just scale—it's stability. AI infrastructure, especially when deployed at the edge or in high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, requires constant, reliable, low-latency power.

Why Small Modular Reactors Are the Right Fit

Enter Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): a new class of nuclear technology designed to address the exact energy profile demanded by AI. Unlike traditional gigawatt-scale reactors, SMRs are compact, flexible, and deployable near load centers such as data campuses, manufacturing zones, or AI research facilities.

Key SMR advantages that align with AI-driven electricity demand:

  • Baseload Reliability: Unlike renewables, SMRs provide 24/7 consistent power with no intermittency, which is essential for mission-critical AI operations.

  • Grid Stability & Co-Location: SMRs can be sited closer to high-demand users, reducing transmission losses and mitigating grid congestion.

  • Modular Scalability: Facilities can begin with a single module and scale incrementally as demand increases, thereby reducing upfront capital risk.

  • Carbon-Free Operations: SMRs produce zero CO₂ emissions during operation, supporting ESG mandates and data center sustainability goals.

From Theoretical to Deployable

What was once a futuristic idea is quickly becoming a reality. Governments across North America, Europe, and Asia are accelerating the licensing and deployment pathways for small modular reactors (SMRs). Companies like Nuvora Energy are now pairing SMRs with hydrogen electrolysers, battery storage, and advanced computing hubs, offering integrated solutions for decarbonized energy ecosystems.

A New Energy Paradigm for AI Infrastructure

What was once a futuristic idea is quickly becoming a reality. Governments across North America, Europe, and Asia are accelerating the licensing and deployment pathways for small modular reactors (SMRs). Companies like Nuvora Energy are now pairing SMRs with hydrogen electrolysers, battery storage, and advanced computing hubs, offering integrated solutions for decarbonized energy ecosystems.


The global AI boom is reshaping not only how we work and live, but also how we power the future. Behind the sleek interfaces of large language models, generative algorithms, and real-time automation systems lies an energy challenge of unprecedented scale. As AI workloads grow exponentially, so too does the demand for secure, scalable, and low-carbon electricity.

The Hidden Cost of Intelligence: Power

According to recent projections, data centers could consume as much as 8%–10% of global electricity by 2030, largely driven by AI training and inference. Training a single large AI model can require megawatt-hours of electricity, comparable to the annual consumption of hundreds of homes. The problem isn't just scale—it's stability. AI infrastructure, especially when deployed at the edge or in high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, requires constant, reliable, low-latency power.

Why Small Modular Reactors Are the Right Fit

Enter Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): a new class of nuclear technology designed to address the exact energy profile demanded by AI. Unlike traditional gigawatt-scale reactors, SMRs are compact, flexible, and deployable near load centers such as data campuses, manufacturing zones, or AI research facilities.

Key SMR advantages that align with AI-driven electricity demand:

  • Baseload Reliability: Unlike renewables, SMRs provide 24/7 consistent power with no intermittency, which is essential for mission-critical AI operations.

  • Grid Stability & Co-Location: SMRs can be sited closer to high-demand users, reducing transmission losses and mitigating grid congestion.

  • Modular Scalability: Facilities can begin with a single module and scale incrementally as demand increases, thereby reducing upfront capital risk.

  • Carbon-Free Operations: SMRs produce zero CO₂ emissions during operation, supporting ESG mandates and data center sustainability goals.

From Theoretical to Deployable

What was once a futuristic idea is quickly becoming a reality. Governments across North America, Europe, and Asia are accelerating the licensing and deployment pathways for small modular reactors (SMRs). Companies like Nuvora Energy are now pairing SMRs with hydrogen electrolysers, battery storage, and advanced computing hubs, offering integrated solutions for decarbonized energy ecosystems.

A New Energy Paradigm for AI Infrastructure

What was once a futuristic idea is quickly becoming a reality. Governments across North America, Europe, and Asia are accelerating the licensing and deployment pathways for small modular reactors (SMRs). Companies like Nuvora Energy are now pairing SMRs with hydrogen electrolysers, battery storage, and advanced computing hubs, offering integrated solutions for decarbonized energy ecosystems.