核能和SMR是解决数据中心能源问题的方法吗？

Are nuclear power and SMRs the solution to data center energy woes?

November 14, 2024  By Zachary Skidmore 

尽管SMR技术具有巨大的潜力，但仍存在疑问。

Question marks remain over SMR technology, despite its massive potential

数据中心的能源需求预计将在未来五年内激增，仅美国的能源消耗就可能从2022年的17GW增长到2030年的35GW。人工智能（AI）智算数据中心将成为这一增长的主要驱动力，每个智算中心需要的电力容量高达80MW，相比之下，常规数据中心仅需32MW。

The energy demand for data centers is expected to surge over the next five years, with US consumption alone likely to rise from 17GW in 2022 to 35GW by 2030. AI-specific data centers are due to be the primary driver of this growth, each requiring upwards of 80MW of power capacity compared to the 32MW needed for standardized centers.

然而，随着大多数主要运营商为他们的业务设定了雄心勃勃的净零目标，如何在确保更多电力供应的同时遵守减排已成为一个重大关切的问题。因此，数据中心运营商正在越来越多地探索新能源的可能性，核能作为一种潜在的解决方案正在浮现。

However, with most of the major operators setting lofty net zero targets for their businesses, the balance of securing more power whilst adhering to emission reduction has become a significant concern.As a result, data center operators are increasingly exploring the possibility of new energy sources, with nuclear energy emerging as a potential solution.

数据中心公司近年来一直在投资低碳能源。亚马逊网络服务公司（AWS）自2020年以来一直是全球最大的可再生能源企业购买者，而微软、谷歌和Meta等公司也都投资了数GW的可再生能源。 

Data center firms have continuously invested in low-carbon energy over recent years. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy globally since 2020, while the likes of Microsoft, Google, and Meta have all invested in gigawatts of renewable power.

然而，可再生能源往往是间歇性的，并且依赖于地理位置，这使得它作为数据中心主要能源供应的可行性受到质疑。核能作为潜在解决方案出现，提供了一个稳定、可靠的能源供应，不依赖于特定地理位置来获取能源。

However, renewable energy is often intermittent and dependent on location, making its viability as the primary power source for data centers questionable. Nuclear power has emerged as a potential solution to these challenges, offering a consistent, reliable power source that is not reliant on specific geographical placement to secure power.

Nano Nuclear的首席执行官James Walker表示，数据中心“越来越需要能源，不能继续仅仅依赖电网。” 

James Walker, CEO of microreactor company Nano Nuclear, says data centers “are becoming increasingly energy hungry and can't keep relying solely on the grid.”

他认为数据中心需要自己发电。“然而，许多零碳能源系统是依赖位置，这使得核能成为一个可行的选择，”他补充说。“即使他们使用燃煤或燃气电厂，这些也是依赖位置。核能是最好的解决方案，因为它不依赖于特定位置，并提供最一致的能源输出。”

Walker says they need to generate their own power. “However, many zero-carbon energy systems are location-dependent, leaving nuclear energy a viable option,” he adds. “Even if they were to use coal or gas plants, those are also location-dependent. Nuclear power is the best solution because it isn't tied to specific locations and provides the most consistent energy output."

这种可靠性已经推动了超大规模运营商向核能解决方案发展。2024年3月，AWS与Talen Energy签署了一项协议，收购宾夕法尼亚州一个由萨斯奎哈纳核电站供电的960MW数据中心，显示出行业对核能的信心日益增强。

This reliability has already pushed the hyperscalers towards nuclear solutions. In March 2024, AWS signed an agreement with Talen Energy to acquire a 960MW data center powered by the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, demonstrating the industry's growing confidence in nuclear power.

亚马逊发言人在评论这笔交易时表示，其意图是“补充我们的风能和太阳能项目，这些项目依赖于天气条件来产生能源。我们与Talen Energy达成的无碳能源协议就是这一努力中的一个项目。”

An Amazon spokesperson commenting on the deal said that its intention was "to supplement our wind and solar energy projects, which depend on weather conditions to generate energy. Our agreement with Talen Energy for carbon-free energy is one project in that effort."

这家超大规模云计算公司的园区扩张计划在本月早些时候遭遇挫折，联邦能源监管委员会（FERC）驳回了一项这家云计算扩容提议，该提议本可以将额外的180兆瓦电力专用于该数据中心场地。其他的能源公司抱怨这项惠及AWS和Talen的提议存在不公平。

The hyperscaler's plans to grow the size of the campus suffered a blow earlier this month when an interconnection request, which would have seen an additional 180MW of power dedicated to the site, was rejected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Energy companies had complained that the proposal unfairly benefited both AWS and Talen.

在宾夕法尼亚州的其他地方，微软在9月份透露，它支持重启休眠的三哩岛核电站，签署了一项购电协议（PPA），根据该协议，微软将获得该设施的全部837兆瓦电力容量，用于为其在该州以及芝加哥、弗吉尼亚和俄亥俄州的数据中心供电。

Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, Microsoft revealed in September that it was backing the revival of the dormant Three Mile Island nuclear plant, signing a PPA which will see it take the full 837MW output of the facility to power its data centers in the state, as well as Chicago, Virginia, and Ohio.

这一重新燃起的兴趣促使美国的传统电力生产商开始寻求延长核电资产的使用寿命或重新启动核电设施。例如，Vistra公司在其第三季度财报中宣布，数据中心行业对获取核电供应的兴趣正在增加，这表明这一领域的关注度正在不断上升。

This renewed interest has led traditional power producers across the US to look to extend the life of or restart their nuclear assets. Firms such as Vistra announced in their Q3 earnings that interest from the data center sector in acquiring nuclear power supply is increasing, demonstrating the growing interest.

此外，NextEra的首席执行官John Ketchum报告说，由于数据中心的强烈兴趣，美国公用事业公司正在考虑重启爱荷华州的Duane Arnold核电站。

In addition, NextEra CEO John Ketchum reported that the US utility is contemplating restarting the Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa thanks to strong interest from data centers.

“鉴于我们从数据中心看到的所有的需求，以及供应和可用地点的压缩，它甚至更多地提高了数据中心之外的其他行业锁定低成本可再生能源的溢价，”Ketchum说。

"Given all of the demand that we're seeing from data centers, and the compression of supply and available sites ready to go, it's creating even more of a premium on other industries outside of data centers to try to lock up low-cost renewable generation," said Ketchum.

兴趣并不局限于美国市场。台湾，作为芯片制造巨头台积电（TSMC）的所在地，已表示对部署核能以应对由AI增长引发的芯片制造商电力需求激增持“非常开放”态度。

Interest has not been constrained to the US market. Taiwan, home to the chip fabrication behemoth TSMC, has indicated that it is “very open” to the deployment of nuclear energy to cope with the surging demand for power from chipmakers in the country precipitated by the growth of AI.

这些举措表明，人们认为在过渡到无碳能源时没有一种放之四海而皆准的解决方案。所有可行的手段都被探索和测试，以确定哪些最适合每个数据中心站点。在联邦能源监管委员会（FERC）的裁决之后，看到公用事业公司和数据中心如何在不稳定的监管环境中穿行将是有趣的。然而，尽管存在担忧，大多数公司对行业的增长持乐观态度，并相信核能将作为数据中心未来的关键能源之一继续存在。

These moves are demonstrative of an approach that believes there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution when transitioning to carbon-free energy. All viable means are explored and tested to determine what is most applicable for each data center site. Following the FERC ruling, seeing how utilities and data centers traverse the shaky regulatory environment will be interesting. However, despite concerns, most companies are bullish on the sector's growth and believe nuclear is here to stay as a key power source for data centers going forward.

核能非常适合数据中心的需求，因为它提供了它们需要的稳定电力以保持在线。

Nuclear power is well-suited to the needs of data centers because it provides the consistent power they require to stay online.

Digital Realty的ESG副总裁Aaron Binkley看到了核能和数据中心能源消费概况之间的明显协同效应。“核能的希望和前景是丰富的无碳24/7发电，这与数据中心的负载概况非常接近，”Binkley说。

Aaron Binkley, vice president of ESG at Digital Realty, sees a clear synergy between nuclear power and the energy consumption profile of data centers. "The hope and promise of nuclear energy is abundant carbon-free 24/7 generation that matches pretty closely the load profile of a data center," Binkley says

此外，核能解决了数据中心的三个关键问题：成本效率、减排和能源安全。尽管建造核电站既昂贵又耗时，但大型核电站一旦投入运营就具有成本效益。延长现有核电站的使用寿命可以帮助维持能源供应，特别是在西方国家。

Additionally, nuclear energy addresses three critical concerns for data centers: cost efficiency, emissions reduction, and energy security. Though building nuclear power plants is expensive and time-consuming, large-scale sites become cost-effective once operational. Extending the life of existing nuclear plants can help maintain the energy supply, especially in Western countries.

国际能源署（IEA）估计，到2030年，延长这些工厂的使用寿命会花费每千瓦500到1100美元，使电力成本低于每兆瓦时40美元，使核能在许多地区与太阳能和风能竞争。

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that extending these plants will cost between $500 to $1,100 per kW by 2030, resulting in electricity costs below $40 per MWh, making nuclear energy competitive with solar and wind in many areas.

Holtec International的政府事务和通信总监Patrick O'Brien表示：“为这些日益增长的需求提供直接、始终在线的清洁电力供应是有意义的。”

"Providing a direct, always on, clean power supply makes sense for these growing needs," says Patrick O'Brien, director of government affairs and communications at Holtec International, which provides nuclear energy equipment and services.

如果他们不寻求部署小型模块化反应堆（SMRs）并试图从电网获取电力，将进一步扩展该系统。从开发商的角度来看，能够以固定成本获得清洁电力可以满足双方对建设/运营成本稳定性的需求，并确保双方在成本方面对重大投资的电力需求。

The problem would come if they don't look to deploy to small modular reactors (SMRs) and try to acquire power from the grid, further stretching that system. From a developer perspective, the ability to procure clean power at a fixed cost could benefit both sides' needs for construction/ operation costs stability and ensuring the power needs for the significant investment made on both sides from a cost perspective.

因此，特别是在欧洲和美国，这些地区近年来对大规模核能的投资有限，SMRs已成为数据中心日益增长能源需求的一个有希望的商业案例。

As a result, especially within Europe and the US, where there has been limited investment in large-scale nuclear over recent years, SMRs have emerged as a promising business case for data centers' growing energy demand.

虽然传统核电站适合大规模能源需求，但smr正成为一种吸引人的替代方案，特别是对数据中心而言。SMRs提供了一个更灵活和可扩展的解决方案，平均容量为300MW，非常适合单个数据中心或小型集群。

While traditional nuclear plants are a good fit for large-scale energy needs, SMRs are emerging as an enticing alternative, particularly for data centers. SMRs offer a more flexible and scalable solution, with an average capacity of 300MW, ideal for single data centers or small clusters.

Nano Nuclear的James Walker指出：“SMRs几乎可以放置在任何地方，提供了一个出色的容量因子，这是能源一致性的关键衡量标准，甚至超过了天然气或煤炭。鉴于这些优势，科技公司将核能视为首选解决方案，这并不奇怪。”

James Walker of Nano Nuclear points out: "SMRs can be placed almost anywhere and offer an exceptional capacity factor, a key measure of energy consistency, which surpasses even that of gas or coal. Given these advantages, it's no surprise that tech companies have identified nuclear power as the preferred solution."

SMRs的一个关键优势是它们的创新设计，不依赖于常规水中子慢化和冷却。相反，它们使用高温气体或熔盐，提高了安全性和效率。此外，SMRs需要的空间要少得多，并且不需要传统核电站所需的10英里应急规划区域。这使它们理论上更容易被社区接受，因为它们引起的安全担忧较少，可能需要较少的监管监督，尽管该技术仍处于起步阶段，这一点还有待测试。

One key advantage of SMRs is their innovative design, which doesn't rely on regular water for neutron moderation and cooling. Instead, they use high temperature gas or molten salt, enhancing safety and efficiency. Moreover, SMRs require much less space and do not need the 10-mile emergency planning zone that traditional nuclear plants do. This makes them theoretically more acceptable to communities, as they raise fewer safety concerns and may require less regulatory oversight, though as the technology is still in its infancy this has yet to be put to the test.

SMR公司NuScale的首席商务官克莱顿·斯科特说：“与可再生能源和传统核能相比，SMR技术提供了一种具有成本竞争力、安全、可扩展的解决方案。”

Clayton Scott, chief commercial officer at SMR company NuScale, says: "SMR technology offers a cost-competitive, safe, and scalable solution compared to renewable energy sources and traditional nuclear power.”

SMR的发展依赖于牢固的合作伙伴关系和供应链能力。Scott指出：“当我们制造我们的模块时，我们与长期供应链合作伙伴的关系，其中许多是战略投资者，是一个重要的优势来源。这些合作伙伴关系对于提供高质量、成本竞争性的组件至关重要，我们致力于发展全球供应链以满足对NuScale技术日益增长的需求。

The development of SMRs hinges on robust partnerships and supply chain capabilities. Scott notes: "When manufacturing our modules, our relationships with our long-term supply chain partners, many of which are strategic investors, are a significant source of strength. These partnerships are crucial for delivering high-quality, cost-competitive components, and we remain committed to developing a global supply chain to meet the growing demand for NuScale's technology."

这种方法确保了SMR技术的可靠性和成本效益，使数据中心运营商能够迅速有效地部署SMRs。

This approach ensures the reliability and cost-effectiveness of SMR technology and enables data center operators to deploy SMRs rapidly and efficiently.

Holtec的O'Brien强调了SMRs满足多样化能源需求的潜力：“我认为SMRs将发挥关键作用。这种占地面积小的稳定清洁发电机使许多行业考虑一种新的电力来源，并为他们提供增长机会。此外，能够在任何地区和条件下部署的能力将使发展中地区的世界拥有前所未有的稳定、清洁电力。

Holtec’s O'Brien highlights the potential for SMRs to meet diverse energy needs: "I think SMRs will play a key role,” he says. “The small footprint of a constant clean power generator will allow many industries to consider a new power source for their needs that can provide them with a growth opportunity. Additionally, the ability to deploy in any region and condition will allow developing areas of the world to have stable, clean power like never before."

SMR行业最近因数据中心超大规模运营商的几项声明而受到提振，他们保证在他们的站点部署他们的解决方案。

The SMR sector has been buoyed recently by several announcements by data center hyperscalers who have committed to deploying their solutions at their sites.

从4月到10月，几家主要的超大规模运营商签署了SMR协议，包括Equinix和Prometheus与Sam Altman支持的Oklo签署的购电协议。

From April to October, several major hyperscalers signed SMR deals, including PPAs signed by Equinix and Prometheus, with Sam Altman-backed Oklo.

谷歌也加入了这一行动，从Karios Power获得了六座反应堆的500MW能源。

Google also got into the act, acquiring 500MW of energy from Karios Power across six reactors.

AWS做出了最大的承诺，签署了该行业的三项单独协议。它与Energy Northwest和Dominion在华盛顿和弗吉尼亚签署了供应协议。此外，它直接投资于X-energy，一个SMR开发商，以支持到2039年建造超过5GW的新核能项目。相应的，SMRs将作为AWS与Energy Northwest交易的一部分部署。

AWS made the biggest commitment by signing three separate deals across the sector. It signed supply agreements with Energy Northwest and Dominion in Washington and Virginia. In addition, it directly invested in X-energy, an SMR developer, to support the construction of more than 5GW of new nuclear energy projects by 2039. The SMRs will, in turn, be deployed as part of AWS's deal with Energy Northwest.

对于Natixis的能源和转型专家Ivan Pavlovic来说，这是一种方便的结合。他认为：“数据中心运营商和SMR开发商之间存在密切的联系，因为数据中心需要恒定的、低碳的电力，而SMRs可以提供可靠的基载电力。”

For Ivan Pavlovic, energy and transition specialist at Natixis, this is a marriage of convenience. He argues: "There’s an alignment of stars with data center operators and SMR developers, as data centers require constant, low-carbon electricity, and SMRs can provide reliable baseload power."

因此，SMR公司正在考虑数据中心作为先行者，催生更多为该行业量身定制的解决方案。例如，初创公司Deep Atomic在10月宣布了一个直接针对数据中心行业的SMR概念。

As a result, SMR firms are looking at data centers as a first mover, spurring more bespoke solutions for the sector. An example of this is start-up Deep Atomic, which in October announced an SMR concept directly tailored to the data center sector.

“我们在规模上是不同的……许多竞争对手处于SMR的上端，他们对于数据中心的离网孤岛电力解决方案来说太大了，”一位公司发言人说。因此，SMRs似乎在数据中心行业中找到了一个伙伴，这可能会促进其增长。

"We’re differentiated in size…many competitors are at the upper end of SMRs, and too large, we think, for a behind-the-grid island power solution for data centers," said a company spokesperson. As a result, it seems that SMRs have found a bedfellow in the data center sector, which could gestate its growth.

尽管对SMRs的可行性和它们是否在数据中心行业中广泛使用具有财务可行性存在担忧，但数据中心在支持这些技术扩展以提供现金流生成确定性方面的作用至关重要，这对于没有政府支持机制的情况下获得项目融资资格至关重要。

Concerns persist over scalability and whether SMRs are financially viable for widespread use across the data center sector. As a result, substantial financial backing is crucial to avoid the pitfalls of project financing. Currently, no bank will support SMRs, as they require proven, reliable technology with established off-take agreements to mitigate project cash flow risks. Therefore, the role of data centers is paramount in supporting the scaling of these technologies to provide cash flow generation certainty, which is crucial for project finance eligibility without government support mechanisms.

尽管SMRs前景看好，但仍存在几个挑战。像“传统”核能一样，该行业面临潜在的延期和成本超支，这可能削弱其与可再生能源的竞争力。此外，目前正在开发的SMR设计的多样性造成了不确定性，即哪些技术将成功。

Despite the promise of SMRs, several challenges remain. Like ‘traditional’ nuclear, the sector faces potential delays and cost overruns, which could undermine its competitiveness with renewable energy sources. Additionally, the diversity of SMR designs currently under development creates uncertainty over which technologies will succeed.

Digital Realty的Binkley强调了这个问题，并表示：“在SMR方面，不同的反应堆技术正在推广。我认为这里也有一个市场接受曲线，即‘嘿，这是否像它承诺的那样好？’”

Digital Realty’s Binkley highlights this issue, and says: "On the SMR side, different reactor technologies are being promoted. I think there's a bit of a market acceptance curve there, too, to say, ‘hey, is this as good as it's being promised?’"

该行业还受到1980年代和1990年代核建设暂停后核供应链的削弱，需要重建能力并为早期SMR项目形成战略合作伙伴关系。

The sector also suffers from an eroded nuclear supply chain after a hiatus in nuclear construction during the 1980s and 1990s, necessitating the rebuilding of capabilities and the formation of strategic partnerships for early SMR projects.

公众接受度是另一个关键因素。核能与切尔诺贝利和福岛等灾难的关联加剧了人们对这项技术的恐惧。然而，像Nano Nuclear这样的公司声称自己是安全的，并表示他们正在通过与利益相关者建立更紧密的伙伴关系来解决概念上的担忧。“我们的方法不仅仅是提供解决方案，还包括与客户建立更紧密的伙伴关系，以了解他们具体的需求。这使我们能够定制我们的技术，以满足不同行业的独特要求，”Walker说道。

Public acceptance is another critical factor. Nuclear power's association with disasters like Chornobyl and Fukushima fuels fears over the technology. However, companies like Nano Nuclear claim to be safe and say they are addressing conceptual concerns by forming closer partnerships with stakeholders. "Our approach is not just about providing solutions but also about forming closer partnerships to understand the specific needs of our clients. This enables us to tailor our technology to meet the unique requirements of various industries," says Walker.

政府在数据中心核能解决方案的成功中也扮演着角色。简化监管环境的政策支持建设新的核电站和延长现有核电站的寿命，这至关重要。然而，对于监管流程的前置时间仍存在担忧，Binkley认为“目前一些时间表可能在实际所需时间方面有点过于乐观。”。

Governments also play a role in the success of nuclear solutions for data centers. Policies that streamline the regulatory environment support constructing new nuclear plants and extending existing ones, which is crucial. However, concerns remain over the lead time of the regulatory process, with Binkley believing that "some of the timelines that are out there probably are a bit aggressive in terms of how long that will take."

Nano Nuclear和NuScale都面临着来自做空者Hunterbrook Media的指控，他们认为这两家公司的时间线不切实际，且他们的产品可能无法达到过高的承诺。NuScale在2023年因需求不足取消了一个项目。无论是这两家公司，还是像Oklo和Rolls Royce这样的竞争对手，都没有部署过一个已经运营的SMR。

Both Nano Nuclear and NuScale are facing charges from short seller Hunterbrook Media that their timelines are unrealistic and that their products may not be able to live up to lofty claims. NuScale canceled a project in 2023 over a lack of demand. Neither company, nor competitors like Oklo and Rolls Royce, have deployed a working SMR.

数据中心的能源需求持续增长，核能，尤其是小型模块化反应堆（SMRs），呈现出一个引人注目的选择——如果它们能够证明自己确实有效运作的话。虽然传统的核电站提供了成本效益高且低碳的能源，但它们面临着高初始成本、严格的监管以及公众担忧等挑战。

As data centers' energy needs continue to rise, nuclear power, especially SMRs, presents a compelling option - if they can prove themselves to be working. While traditional nuclear plants provide cost-effective and low-carbon energy, they face challenges like high initial costs, strict regulations, and public concerns.

SMRs提供了一个潜在的替代方案，它们的费用更低、开发速度更快，并且拥有改进的安全特性，使得它们承诺的能源供应非常适合需要可靠且可扩展电力的数据中心。“核能可以部署在任何地方，”Walker总结道。“它不依赖于地理位置，并且拥有最稳定的能源输出。这种可靠性是科技公司倾向于选择核能解决方案的原因。”

SMRs offer a potential alternative with lower fees, quicker development, and improved safety features, making their promised version perfect for data centers that need reliable and scalable power. "Nuclear power can be deployed anywhere,” Walker summarizes. “It isn't dependent on location and has the most consistent energy output. This reliability is why tech companies have gravitated towards nuclear solutions."

要使小型核能成为数据中心的关键能源，需要政策制定者、行业利益相关者和公众共同努力，以克服经济、监管和社会的挑战。然而，首先，它需要克服对SMR公司是否能够按时按预算交付项目的疑虑——这在核能领域将是首要问题。

For small nuclear energy to become a key power source for data centers, a concerted effort is needed from policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public to overcome the economic, regulatory, and social challenges. First, however, it needs to overcome the doubts about whether SMR companies can actually deliver projects on time and on budget - something that would be a first in the nuclear sector.

来源：DeepKnowledge

翻译：

郭超，普平数据 产品与解决方案与售前客户经理、DKV（DeepKnowledge Volunteer）精英成员

校对：

张衍飞，邮储银行数据中心运维主管、DKV（DeepKnowledge Volunteer）精英成员

贾梦檩，Bridge Data Centres -Critical Operation Technology Engineer、DKI（DeepKnowledge Intelligence）高级研究员

免责声明：本文并非官方认可的中文版本，供读者学习参考，不得用于任何商业用途，文章内容请以英文原版为准，本文不代表深知社观点。文中内容来自互联网，如有针对性，将在24小时内删除。中文版未经公众号DeepKnowledge书面授权，请勿转载。

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