Nvidia invests $650m in Bill Gates’ nuclear firm TerraPower
 |
| Credit: TerraPower |
Nvidia has invested in Bill Gates’ next‑generation nuclear company, TerraPower, through its NVentures arm. Here's what this means:
A $650 million funding round was recently closed, backed by NVentures, Gates himself, and HD Hyundai. This brings TerraPower's total private funding to over $1.4 billion.
The capital will accelerate TerraPower’s flagship Natrium project in Kemmerer, Wyoming. This is a 345 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor paired with molten salt energy storage; it’s on track for regulatory OK next year, with power expected by 2030.
Nvidia’s involvement underscores a shift, as, according to the Financial Times, tech companies are moving into nuclear energy to secure low-carbon, reliable power for AI data centers. Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI), Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are doing the same.
Strategic implications
- This marks the first direct involvement of a major AI chip manufacturer in nuclear energy, signaling how crucial clean, high-density power is for AI infrastructure.
- TerraPower’s Natrium model—smaller reactors with energy storage—offers faster deployment and increased grid flexibility compared to traditional nuclear plants.
- The collaboration highlights a tight coupling between AI expansion and sustainable energy innovation, positioning TerraPower to serve data centers and broader grid needs.
Questions that remain unanswered
- Can regulatory approval really arrive next year, and will the 2030 power timeline hold?
- Will the project stay within budget, avoiding past SMR cost overruns?
- Will this investment encourage further partnerships between nuclear firms and AI/data‑center players?
Nvidia’s move adopts a long‑term perspective: securing high‑capacity, dispatchable power to fuel future AI growth.
We can expect further deals as hyperscalers align infrastructure investment with their own operational needs.
