A group of large-scale energy users, including Amazon, Google, and Meta, have joined together in a pledge to rapidly grow the world’s nuclear energy capabilities, with the goal of at least tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050.

The collective, facilitated by the World Nuclear Association, brings together international companies that recognise the need for clean, firm and abundant energy to power their future growth, while also meeting goals of greater energy resiliency and security.

According to the World Nuclear Association, the pledge marks the first time major businesses beyond the nuclear sector have come together to back an extensive and concerted expansion of nuclear power to meet increasing energy demands.

As part of their commitment, signatories to the pledge have recognised the toll that growing energy demands across industries are placing on the world’s grid infrastructures and agree that nuclear technology has the potential to expand beyond traditional grid electricity, and play a key part in areas such as electrification, hydrogen production, and the development of synthetic fuels.

“We are proud to sign a pledge in support of tripling nuclear capacity by 2050, as nuclear power will be pivotal in building a reliable, secure, and sustainable energy future,” said Lucia Tian, head of clean energy and decarbonisation technologies at Google.

“Google will continue to work alongside our partners to accelerate the commercialisation of advanced nuclear technologies that can provide the around-the-clock clean energy necessary to meet growing electricity demand around the world.”

According to a recent report from the IEA, generation from the world’s nearly 420 nuclear reactors is on track to reach new heights this year, with annual investment in nuclear increasing by almost 50% since 2020, exceeding $60 billion (£46.3bn), and nuclear power producing just under 10% of global generation, the second-largest source of low-emissions electricity after hydropower.

In the technology sector, the construction of the data centres that underpin future AI development has contributed to a rising demand for power across the globe, however, the current infrastructure might quickly prove insufficient, with data from research firm Gartner finding that 40% of existing AI data centres will be operationally constrained by power availability by 2027. 

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Such power concerns have already led Big Tech companies to invest in their nuclear future, with Meta announcing in December that it would look to nuclear power to meet its AI and sustainability ambitions with the aim of delivering 1-4 gigawatts (GW) of electricity capacity by the early 2030s.   

Speaking on the new pledge, Urvi Parekh, head of global energy at Meta, said: “As global economies expand, the need for a reliable, clean, and resilient energy supply is paramount. 

“Nuclear energy, with its ability to provide continuous power, can help meet this rising demand. We’re excited to join alongside this multi-organizational effort with the Tripling Nuclear Pledge to reiterate our commitment to nuclear energy.”