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Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major Global Companies Pledge Historic Support to Triple Nuclear Energy
On the sidelines of CERAWeek 2025 in Houston, major companies join forces for the first time to launch a pioneering cross-sector pledge to emphasize nuclear energy's essential role in enhancing energy security, resiliency and providing continuous clean energy. The group, which includes Google, Amazon, Meta, and Dow, joins 14 major global banks and financial institutions, 140 nuclear industry companies, and 31 countries in supporting the goal to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050. HOUSTON, March 12, 2025 /CNW/ -- Today, a cross-industry group of large energy users signed a pledge supporting the goal of at least tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. This is the first time major businesses beyond the nuclear sector have come together to publicly back an extensive and concerted expansion of nuclear power to meet increasing global energy demand. They also urge other energy users to support the goal to triple nuclear energy. The collective call, facilitated by World Nuclear Association, brings together global companies recognizing their need for nuclear's clean, firm and abundant energy to power their future growth, while also meeting goals of greater energy resiliency and security. This group of companies acknowledge government support and advocate for equal access to finance for nuclear energy. Founding signatories at CERAWeek include: Amazon, Google, Meta, Dow, Occidental, Allseas, OSGE, and IHI. The Pledge is expected to gain more support over the coming months, reflecting growing interest in nuclear power from industries as diverse as maritime, aviation and oil & gas. The Pledge recognizes nuclear's potential to expand beyond traditional grid electricity, providing abundant, continuous energy to support successful and cost-competitive operations for energy users. It continues by highlighting how nuclear can provide clean energy for increased electrification, and a range of economic activity and industrial processes, including the technology sector, synergies with the oil & gas industry, and the provision of industrial process heat – for which nuclear is the most credible and scalable clean source. During CERAWeek, many of the companies, alongside policymakers and the wider nuclear industry, gathered to discuss how nuclear energy fits into their businesses' future strategic plans because it offers an abundant and reliable source of power needed for their growing operations. This pledge demonstrates the demand and support for innovation, investment, and collaboration to achieve global ambitions of industry and countries. Quotes from supporting organizations Lucia Tian, Head of Clean Energy & Decarbonization Technologies, Google, said: "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. Google will continue to work alongside our partners to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies that can provide the around-the-clock clean energy necessary to meet growing electricity demand around the world." Brandon Oyer, Head of Americas Energy and Water for Amazon Web Services, said: "Accelerating nuclear energy development will be critical to strengthening our nation's security, meeting future energy demands, and addressing climate change. Amazon supports the World Nuclear Association's pledge, and is proud to have invested more than $1 billion over the last year in nuclear energy projects and technologies, which is part of our broader Climate Pledge commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2040." Urvi Parekh, Head of Global Energy, 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." Edward Stones, Business Vice President, Dow Energy & Climate, said: "Energy is the lifeblood of global manufacturing and therefore investing and expanding access to clean, reliable, cost-competitive nuclear energy is critical to industrial progress. Dow considers nuclear energy, especially the promising technology of advanced small modular nuclear, to be a long-term competitive source of safe, firm and clean energy." Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General of World Nuclear Association, which represents the global nuclear industry and led the Pledge initiative, said: "The unprecedented support announced today by some of the world's most influential companies to at least triple global nuclear capacity by 2050 sends a clear signal to accelerate policy, finance and regulatory changes that enable the rapid expansion of nuclear power. The global shift towards more nuclear highlights this is the only way we'll deliver the abundant firm clean energy required to power growth and innovation in technology, a host of other industries and the entire economy." Laurent Odeh, Chief Commercial Officer for Urenco, which provides enriched uranium to fuel existing and new-design reactors, said: "It will be a lot harder to address environmental concerns while facilitating economic development in the world without the reliable, 24/7 baseload power nuclear energy provides. This support from large energy users is another sign for governments to enable new nuclear projects so we can accelerate construction and meet the energy needs of both industry and the public." Note to editors The announcement will take place at World Nuclear Association's event at Innovation Agora on Wednesday evening. If you're at CERA week, you can join the event here. Nuclear energy generates 9% of the world's electricity from 439 power reactors. Beyond electricity, nuclear reactors have been used for desalination, district heating and process heat, with 750 reactor operating years of experience. Global energy consumption is projected to continue growing at around 4% annually, according to the International Energy Agency. About Tripling Global Nuclear Energy Capacity Initially launched at World Nuclear Symposium in September 2023 and in partnership with Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation ahead of COP28 in Dubai, the goal to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 has earned support from 31 countries through the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy and more than 140 nuclear industry companies through an accompanying industry pledge. Fourteen of the world's largest financial institutions backed the goal in September 2024. Now, they have been joined by a cross-sector group of large energy users that have endorsed the same goal, publicly at a conference that covers the entire energy sector. The Large Energy Users Pledge was led by World Nuclear Association and its strategic partners within the Net Zero Nuclear initiative, including CERAWeek Event Co-Host Urenco Group and Cameco Corporation. If your company relies on clean, firm energy for future growth, now is the time to act. Join us in advocating for the expansion of nuclear energy and sign the Large Energy Users Pledge. For more information about joining the Pledge, please contact About World Nuclear Association World Nuclear Association is the international organisation that represents the global nuclear industry. Its mission is to promote a wider understanding of nuclear energy among key international influencers by producing authoritative information, developing common industry positions, and contributing to the energy debate, as well as to pave the way for expanding nuclear business. For more information, visit Media Contact: Henry Preston via press@ View original content: SOURCE World Nuclear Association View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google, Amazon, and Meta want a big boost in nuclear energy
After a slate of nuclear energy deals late last year, Big Tech is throwing more support behind efforts to boost nuclear capacity around the world. Google (GOOGL), Meta (META), and Amazon (AMZN) signed a pledge on Tuesday to triple nuclear energy capacity worldwide by 2050 during CERAWeek, an annual energy conference in Houston, Texas. Major tech companies are showing strong interest in nuclear energy and other alternative sources as the artificial intelligence boom creates a massive demand for energy. In July, Google said its carbon emissions have risen by 48% since 2019, mostly due to energy consumption by data centers and supply chain emissions. The company's carbon emissions were up 13% year over year in 2023, according to its 2024 Environmental Report — putting the company at risk of missing its climate goals. '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,' Lucia Tian, head of clean energy and decarbonization technologies at Google, said in a statement about signing the pledge. Urvi Parekh, head of global energy at Meta, said in a statement that growing global economies mean '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,' Parekh said. 'Accelerating nuclear energy development will be critical to strengthening our nation's security, meeting future energy demands, and addressing climate change,' Brandon Oyer, head of Americas energy and water for Amazon Web Services, said in a statement. The three companies had been making moves to increase nuclear energy before the pledge. In December, Meta requested proposals from nuclear energy developers in the U.S. to provide one to four gigawatts of new nuclear generation capacity starting in the next decade. In October, Amazon announced that it had signed three agreements to develop nuclear energy projects. The agreements include building 'several' small modular reactors (SMRs), which have 'a smaller physical footprint, allowing them to be built closer to the grid,' Amazon said. Compared with traditional reactors, SMRs can be put online faster because construction takes less time. Google also announced in October that it had signed 'the world's first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy' from SMRs developed by California-based Kairos Power. The company said it expects to bring Kairos Power's first SMR online by the end of the decade. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google, Amazon, Meta join back tripling of global nuclear power by 2050
March 12 (UPI) -- A coalition of the world's biggest corporate energy users signed a pledge Wednesday in Houston to support a tripling of nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Founding signatories include tech giants Google, Amazon and Meta as well as Occidental, Dow, Allseas and OSGE. The World Nuclear Association brought the companies together to make the pledge to support the nuclear energy goal. It marks the first time companies outside the nuclear sector have come together across industries to push for concerted, robust nuclear power expansion to meet future global energy demand. The pledge initiative was led by Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General of the World Nuclear Association. "The unprecedented support announced today by some of the world's most influential companies to at least triple global nuclear capacity by 2050 sends a clear signal to accelerate policy, finance and regulatory changes that enable the rapid expansion of nuclear power," he said. "Google will continue to work alongside our partners to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies that can provide the around-the-clock clean energy necessary to meet growing electricity demand around the world," Google's Lucia Tian said. Anti-nuclear power organizations like environmental activist group Greenpeace oppose the expansion of nuclear power, advocating sustainable solar and wind power instead. "Nuclear reactors are inherently unsafe. Meltdowns like the ones in Fukushima or Chernobyl released enormous amounts of radiation into the surrounding communities, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate. Many of them may never come back. If the industry's current track record is any indication, we can expect a major meltdown about once per decade," Greenpeace said in a statement. Greenpeace asserted that nuclear plants are not only more dangerous but are more expensive and take longer to build when what the world needs are fast, affordable and environmentally sustainable solutions. "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," Meta's Urvi Parekh said. Amazon Web Services said in October it will invest $500 million in small nuclear reactors to generate electricity needed for expanding tech services, including artificial intelligence. It's part of Amazon's zero-carbon emissions effort. "Accelerating nuclear energy development will be critical to strengthening our nation's security, meeting future energy demands, and addressing climate change. Amazon supports the World Nuclear Association's pledge, and is proud to have invested more than $1 billion over the last year in nuclear energy projects and technologies, which is part of our broader Climate Pledge commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2040," AWS Head of Americas Energy and Water Brandon Oyer said. "It will be a lot harder to address environmental concerns while facilitating economic development in the world without the reliable, 24/7 base load power nuclear energy provides," Urenco Chief Commercial Officer Laurent Odeh said in a statement. "This support from large energy users is another sign for governments to enable new nuclear projects so we can accelerate construction and meet the energy needs of both industry and the public."
