Issue Nuclear-powered data centres remain confined to hyperscalers and the well-capitalised

Summary

Deloitte reports that the environmental impact of AI infrastructure is spurring innovation in sustainable computing. Government and private initiatives are exploring nuclear energy as a way to power data centres without carbon emissions. The report is explicit, however, that implementation so far is limited to hyperscalers and organisations with substantial capital. In a sidebar, David Linthicum argues data centre growth will not stop, citing about a hundred data centres within 10 miles of his home in Northern Virginia. He expects small nuclear plants in areas where data centres cluster, observing that a nearby plant serving only data centres today does not produce clean energy. For most organisations, the chapter suggests, efficiency measures such as liquid cooling, better use of legacy assets and shifting work to AI PCs remain the more accessible levers.