Asia is turning to nuclear power to feed the AI infrastructure buildout, and the shift is happening faster than almost anyone predicted. Bloomberg Tech reports that governments and hyperscalers across the region are now openly embracing reactors including next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs) as the only realistic way to meet the surging electricity demand from AI data centers .
AI data centers and a more volatile geopolitical environment are forcing countries to seek power that is "reliable, secure, and clean", a profile only nuclear currently fits at scale. The International Energy Agency projects that renewables and nuclear together will supply nearly 60% of data center electricity by 2030, up from 35% today. Big Tech has already signed roughly 9.8 GW in SMR deals globally, with Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta leading the charge.
AI data centers are projected to consume 1,000 TWh in 2026 alone, a staggering figure that grid operators say cannot be met by solar and wind alone. The race is now on: restart Three Mile Island, build new SMRs in Japan, Korea, and Singapore, and lock in baseload power before the AI buildout outruns the grid.