Valar Atomics powers Nvidia data center with microreactor

A nuclear power startup has successfully powered an artificial intelligence data center using a small reactor, marking a first in the United States and signaling a potential shift in how energy-intensive computing infrastructure is built. Valar Atomics, in partnership with chipmaker Nvidia, demonstrated its helium-cooled microreactor powering Nvidia's Blackwell AI chip architecture at a site in Orangeville, Utah, on July 1.

The demonstration is part of a broader effort to address growing concerns over the massive water and power demands of data centers needed for AI development. Nvidia recently announced a new data center design, called DSX, which uses a closed-loop liquid cooling system. The company estimates this method could reduce water consumption for cooling from approximately 2.6 million gallons per megawatt per year to near zero. Valar's reactor design complements this by using helium instead of water for its own cooling, aiming for a nearly waterless operation.

John Josephakis, a global vice president at Nvidia, said the collaboration explores how such "behind-the-meter" nuclear systems could support future AI facilities, allowing them to operate independently of local...