Deep Atomic, a Switzerland-based nuclear energy startup, has unveiled plans for a small modular reactor (SMR) to satisfy data centers’ growing energy demands.

The small nuclear reactor called the MK60 offers a compact and scalable solution by supplying 60 megawatts of electricity and 60 megawatts of cooling for the data centers, according to a press release by the firm.

“Data centers (DCs) are the backbone of digital innovation, but their massive energy needs have become the critical bottleneck blocking growth,” William Theron, Founder and CEO of Deep Atomic, said in the press release.

Deep Atomic’s SMR is “designed to be installed on-site at data centers, delivering reliable zero-carbon electricity and energy efficient cooling, thereby significantly reducing carbon footprints, and helping data centers meet their increasingly stringent sustainability goals.”

With the integrated “data center-centric design,” this digital infrastructure can be zero-carbon and highly efficient in power and cooling, lowering operating costs and environmental impact.

The company claims the reactor is well-suited for energy-sucking artificial intelligence (AI) applications, cryptocurrency, and traditional cloud services.

MK60 ‘hits a sweet spot’

Deep Atomic has purposefully chosen a smaller 60 MW design, defying the trend of bigger 300 MW reactors typical in the nascent SMR sector.

“A 60 MW reactor with additional 60 MW of cooling capacity hits a sweet spot for data centers,” stated the startup’s head of engineering, Freddy Mondale, while explaining the rationale behind the reactor.

“It’s large enough to power significant compute infrastructure, yet small enough to allow for modular deployment and scaling.”

The reactor’s scalable power solution can benefit data centers in different locations, particularly those with restricted grid access.

Its sophisticated safety features enable placement close to urban areas, supporting edge data centers with reduced latency and speedier service for high computing.

“This size also reduces initial capital costs and project risks compared to larger SMRs, making it more attractive for DC operators,” added Mondale.

“The MK60 can be deployed in multiples, allowing scalability from 60 MW up to over 1 GW to meet growing energy demands.”

By bypassing the grid restrictions, the MK60 on-site reactors allow ideal placement without putting additional load on the infrastructure. The reactor works regardless of grid reliability and continues all-weather operations around the clock.

Race to limitless nuclear power

Many companies, including tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, have signed massive deals recently to acquire nuclear power to feed their energy-hungry data centers.

Earlier in October, Google inked the first contract in its history to purchase electricity from several SMRs, a move designed to support the company’s growing energy needs driven by AI.

On the other hand, a three-mile closed island in Pennsylvania that previously operated as a US nuclear plant will reopen to meet the energy needs of Microsoft’s data centers.

Meanwhile, the Zurich-based Deep Atomic claims its MK60 reactor design policy focuses on risk mitigation and practical deployment, particularly rooted in decades-old nuclear technology tailored specifically for data centers.

“Our core philosophy is to design to be built. We’re not reinventing nuclear technology, but rather refining it for data center applications,” said Deep Atomic Co-founder and Chief Design Officer Rea Stark.

The “approach facilitates smoother regulatory processes, and efficient scaling,” Stark noted.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/60-mw-small-swiss-nuclear-193707052.html