What are Small Modular Reactors?

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are factory-built nuclear units that can be transported by truck and assembled on-site much faster than traditional nuclear plants. They offer enhanced safety features like passive cooling systems and can be scaled up or down based on demand, making them perfect for powering data centers.

Why does AI need so much electricity?

Training a single large language model consumes as much electricity as hundreds of homes use in an entire year. With thousands of models being trained simultaneously plus millions of daily user queries, data centers already consume 1% of global electricity and could triple by 2030.

Nuclear energy boom stocks to buy?

Key Nuclear Energy Boom stocks include NuScale Power Corp (SMR) developing Small Modular Reactors, NextEra Energy (NEE) operating America's largest nuclear fleet, and Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG) with nuclear facilities strategically located near major data center hubs in New Jersey.

How to invest in nuclear energy boom with small amounts?

You can invest in Nuclear Energy Boom stocks starting from just $1 through fractional shares on regulated platforms like Nemo. This allows beginners to gain exposure to companies like NuScale, NextEra Energy, and Public Service Enterprise Group without needing thousands of dollars.

Nuclear energy boom investment risks?

Key risks include lengthy regulatory approval processes, potential construction delays and cost overruns, and competition from cheap natural gas and improving battery storage. However, AI's fundamental need for reliable 24/7 power makes nuclear the only carbon-free solution at scale.

Is nuclear energy boom profitable long-term?

Yes, nuclear plants offer remarkably low and stable operating costs over decades despite high upfront investment. With AI companies needing reliable power and making carbon neutrality pledges, nuclear provides the only realistic path to meet both requirements simultaneously.

Why nuclear over solar and wind for AI?

Nuclear plants operate at 90%+ capacity factors compared to wind farms at 35% and solar at 25%. AI data centers cannot tolerate power interruptions as brief outages can crash weeks-long training runs, wasting millions in computational resources.

When will nuclear energy boom peak?

The nuclear renaissance is accelerating now as data centers could triple electricity consumption by 2030. Government support through the CHIPS Act and Department of Energy funding, plus tech companies' carbon pledges, create a multi-billion investment opportunity over the coming decades.

Nuclear energy boom government support?

The US Department of Energy is funding advanced reactor development while the CHIPS Act includes provisions for domestic nuclear fuel production. This government backing isn't just energy policy—it's about maintaining America's technological competitiveness in the AI race.

Commission-free nuclear energy boom stock trading?

Nemo offers commission-free investing in Nuclear Energy Boom stocks with AI-driven research and fractional shares starting from $1. As an ADGM-regulated platform, you can access companies positioned at the intersection of the AI revolution and clean energy transition.

Nuclear Power's AI Moment: Why Data Centers Are Driving the Atomic Renaissance

Aimee Silverwood | Financial Analyst

• 6 min read

• Published on 25 July 2025

Listen to article

6:49

Hey! We are Nemo.

Nemo, short for Never Miss Out, is a mobile investment platform that delivers curated, data-driven investment ideas to your fingertips. It offers commission-free trading across stocks, ETFs, crypto, and CFDs, along with AI-powered tools, real-time market alerts, and themed stock collections called Nemes.

Download the App

Scan the QR code to download the Nemo app and start investing on Nemo today

Invest Today on Nemo

Nuclear Energy Boom: AI & Data Centers Power Atomic Renaissance

Soaring AI energy needs are fueling a nuclear power renaissance for reliable, carbon-free electricity. Innovative Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) may offer faster, safer, and more scalable nuclear energy solutions. Government support and rising tech demand could unlock major investment opportunities in the nuclear sector. Nuclear provides reliable 24/7 baseload power, a key advantage over intermittent renewable sources for AI.

Zero commission trading

The Unlikely Alliance: Why AI's Thirst for Power Could Revive Nuclear Energy

Let’s be honest, for the last few decades, nuclear power has been the awkward uncle at the energy family dinner. Everyone knows it’s powerful, but nobody really wants to talk about it, haunted by memories of past mishaps and the eternal question of what to do with the leftovers. Yet, in a twist of fate I find rather amusing, the futuristic world of artificial intelligence might just be the thing that brings nuclear back into the fold.

The Sobering Reality of Our Digital Future

The cheerleaders for AI, bless their optimistic hearts, tend to gloss over one rather inconvenient truth. This digital revolution is fantastically, almost comically, greedy for electricity. Training a single AI model can guzzle as much power as a few hundred homes use in a year. Now, picture thousands of these things running at once, all while you and I are asking ChatGPT to write a poem about a badger.

The numbers are getting silly. Data centres are on a path that could see them tripling their electricity consumption by 2030. We’re talking about individual corporate campuses needing more power than a small country. This isn't a blip, it's the new baseline. And while I’m all for a field of solar panels glistening in the sun, they have a rather stubborn habit of not working at night. Wind turbines are equally temperamental. AI, however, never sleeps. It needs a constant, unwavering flow of power, 24/7.

Enter the Unfashionable Hero

This is where our awkward uncle, nuclear power, strolls back into the room. It’s the only carbon-free source that can provide what’s known as ‘baseload’ power. Think of it as the reliable, unglamorous engine that runs constantly in the background. A typical nuclear plant operates at over 90% capacity. For wind and solar, you’re looking at figures closer to 35% and 25% respectively.

For a data centre, a power cut isn’t just an annoyance, it’s a catastrophe. It can wipe out weeks of work and millions of pounds in computational costs. To me, the partnership makes perfect, practical sense. AI needs unwavering reliability, and nuclear power is nothing if not relentlessly consistent. It’s not a romantic pairing, it’s a marriage of pure necessity.

Not Your Grandfather's Nuclear Plant

The good news is that the industry hasn't been sitting still. The real game-changer could be something called Small Modular Reactors, or SMRs. Forget the colossal, decade-long construction projects of the past. The idea here is to build smaller, standardised reactors in a factory, like a very complex piece of flat-pack furniture, and then ship them to where they’re needed.

This approach promises to make deployment faster, cheaper, and potentially safer. Companies like NuScale Power are already getting these designs through the thicket of regulatory approval. It’s a potential solution that could be scaled to power a single data centre campus, which is precisely what the tech giants are looking for. This evolving landscape, which includes established players like NextEra Energy and Public Service Enterprise Group, presents a fascinating area for consideration. For those looking to understand the companies at the forefront, collections like the Nuclear Energy Boom offer a way to track these key players.

Of course, let’s not get carried away. Investing in this sector is not without its risks. The shadow of public opinion is long, and regulatory hurdles can still feel like wading through treacle. Cost overruns have been a hallmark of the industry for a reason. But the fundamental problem remains. AI’s hunger for power is immense and growing, and when you look at the options, nuclear energy keeps presenting itself as a logical, if complicated, part of the answer.

Deep Dive

Market & Opportunity

Data center electricity consumption is projected to triple by 2030 from its current level of 1% of global usage, driven by AI adoption.
Nuclear power provides carbon-free, 24/7 baseload power, which is critical for AI systems that require constant, uninterrupted electricity.
Nuclear plants operate at capacity factors above 90%, significantly higher than wind at 35% or solar at 25%.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) offer a way to reduce construction time and costs compared to traditional nuclear plants.

Key Companies

NuScale Power Corp (SMR): Develops factory-built Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) designed for faster and more cost-effective deployment. The technology has received regulatory approval and targets the growing demand for reliable, clean energy.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE): Operates one of the largest nuclear fleets in the U.S. while also investing in renewable energy, positioning it to supply both baseload power for AI and clean energy for corporate sustainability goals.
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG): Owns and operates nuclear facilities in New Jersey, a strategic location near major data center hubs, making it a key power supplier for expanding AI infrastructure.

View the full Basket:Nuclear Energy Boom

7 Handpicked stocks

Primary Risk Factors

Regulatory approval processes for nuclear reactors remain lengthy and complex.
Public perception challenges related to past accidents and nuclear waste disposal persist.
The industry has a history of construction delays and cost overruns.
Small Modular Reactors have not yet been proven at a commercial scale.
Competition from abundant natural gas and improving battery storage technology.

Growth Catalysts

The significant and growing energy demand from the AI industry.
Government support, including funding from the US Department of Energy and provisions in the CHIPS Act for domestic nuclear fuel.
The development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) which can be deployed faster and scaled to meet specific demands, such as for data centers.
Broader electrification trends, including electric vehicle adoption and industrial processes, are set to increase overall electricity demand.
National energy security goals that favor domestic power sources like nuclear energy.

How to invest in this opportunity

View the full Basket:Nuclear Energy Boom

7 Handpicked stocks

Frequently Asked Questions

This article is marketing material and should not be construed as investment advice. No information set out in this article be considered, as advice, recommendation, offer, or a solicitation, to buy or sell any financial product, nor is it financial, investment, or trading advice. Any references to specific financial product or investment strategy are for illustrative / educational purposes only and subject to change without notice. It is the investor’s responsibility to evaluate any prospective investment, assess their own financial situation, and seek independent professional advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our Risk Disclosure.

Nuclear Power's AI Moment: Why Data Centers Are Driving the Atomic Renaissance

Nuclear Power's AI Moment: Why Data Centers Are Driving the Atomic Renaissance

Recent insights

Tesla's Deliveries Beat Masks a Deeper Demand Story

Why Washington Just Bet $4.2 Billion on Vistra's Reactors

Toshiba's HDD Surge Rattles Seagate and Western Digital

Rivian's Delivery Surge Can't Shake Investor Jitters

Why ON Semiconductor Is Betting $5.7bn on the Edge

The Unlikely Alliance: Why AI's Thirst for Power Could Revive Nuclear Energy

The Sobering Reality of Our Digital Future

Enter the Unfashionable Hero

Not Your Grandfather's Nuclear Plant

Deep Dive

Market & Opportunity

Key Companies

Primary Risk Factors

Growth Catalysts

How to invest in this opportunity

Frequently Asked Questions

Recent insights

Tesla's Deliveries Beat Masks a Deeper Demand Story

Why Washington Just Bet $4.2 Billion on Vistra's Reactors

Toshiba's HDD Surge Rattles Seagate and Western Digital

Rivian's Delivery Surge Can't Shake Investor Jitters

Why ON Semiconductor Is Betting $5.7bn on the Edge

Tesla's Deliveries Beat Masks a Deeper Demand Story

Why Washington Just Bet $4.2 Billion on Vistra's Reactors

Toshiba's HDD Surge Rattles Seagate and Western Digital

Rivian's Delivery Surge Can't Shake Investor Jitters

Why ON Semiconductor Is Betting $5.7bn on the Edge