Canada's AtkinsRealis Seeks US Nuclear Approval for AI

Canadian nuclear energy company AtkinsRealis Group Inc. plans to apply for regulatory approval in the United States for its nuclear technology, as the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data center boom boosts electricity demand. The company aims to use small modular reactor (SMR) technology to meet the energy needs of the AI sector. AtkinsRealis intends to file an application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to obtain a license for the use of its CANDU reactor technology in the United States. The company states that this technology can provide uninterrupted, low-carbon energy to data centers. The large-scale computing power required for training and operating AI models significantly increases electricity consumption. Energy demand from AI data centers in the U.S. could reach 9% of the country's total electricity consumption by 2030. This is driving interest in baseload power sources such as nuclear energy. AtkinsRealis hopes to meet this demand by deploying CANDU reactors, already in use in Canada, in the United States. The company's CEO emphasized that nuclear energy is critical infrastructure for the growth of the AI sector. AtkinsRealis aims to complete the U.S. regulatory process by 2025 and then begin its first SMR projects. This step could strengthen the company's position in the global nuclear market. This is not investment advice.