Meta Strikes Deals with Three Nuclear Firms to Power Data Centers with Over 6 GW
Meta has announced three major agreements to supply its data centers with nuclear energy, partnering with a mix of startups and established energy companies. The deals include two small modular reactor (SMR) developers—Oklo and TerraPower—and a larger, existing nuclear operator, Vistra.
Startups and Established Players Join Forces
Oklo and TerraPower, both pioneering SMR technology, will build multiple reactors to supply Meta, while Vistra will provide electricity from its current nuclear plants.
Nuclear energy has become increasingly attractive to tech companies aiming to power AI operations, as it offers reliable, 24/7 electricity. While established reactors provide low-cost baseload power, their limited availability has driven firms like Meta toward SMR startups. “Companies like Oklo and TerraPower are betting that by building a large number of smaller reactors, they’ll be able to bring the cost down through mass manufacturing,” analysts note. Meta’s deals give these startups a chance to validate that approach.
The Origin of the Deals
The agreements stem from a request for proposals Meta issued in December 2024, seeking partners capable of supplying 1 to 4 gigawatts of capacity by the early 2030s. Much of this new electricity will be routed through the PJM interconnection, a grid spanning 13 Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states that has become heavily loaded with data centers.
Vistra: Immediate Impact
The 20-year contract with Vistra will have the quickest effect on Meta’s energy needs. Meta will purchase 2.1 gigawatts from Vistra’s existing Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants in Ohio. Additionally, Vistra will expand these facilities and its Beaver Valley plant in Pennsylvania, adding 433 MW of capacity expected to come online in the early 2030s.
Oklo: Ambitious SMR Expansion
Meta will acquire 1.2 gigawatts from Oklo, aiming to start grid supply by 2030. The Aurora Powerhouse reactors, each producing 75 MW, will be built in Pike County, Ohio, requiring over a dozen units to meet Meta’s demand. Oklo, which went public via SPAC in 2023, has faced regulatory hurdles with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) but has previously secured a significant deal with data center operator Switch.
TerraPower: Advanced Storage-Ready Reactors
TerraPower, co-founded by Bill Gates, targets electricity delivery to Meta by 2032. Its reactors use molten sodium to transfer heat to generators, with excess energy stored for later use. Each reactor produces 345 MW, with storage capable of adding 100–500 MW for over five hours. Initial units for Meta will generate 690 MW, with options to scale to 2.8 GW of nuclear capacity and 1.2 GW of storage. TerraPower is collaborating with GE Hitachi on its first plant in Wyoming and has navigated the NRC approval process more smoothly than Oklo.
Costs and Future Outlook
Meta did not disclose financial terms, but electricity from Vistra’s existing reactors is expected to be the least expensive. SMRs, meanwhile, remain untested at scale. TerraPower estimates later plants could cost $50–$60 per MWh, while Oklo targets $80–$130 per MWh, though initial units are likely to be pricier.
As AI-driven data centers grow, these agreements highlight the strategic role nuclear energy—both established and modular—will play in powering the digital economy.
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