Deep Atomic unveils modular reactor design for data centres

Swiss company Deep Atomic has unveiled plans for a small modular reactor specifically designed to power and cool data centres. The MK60 reactor is expected to provide 60 MW of electrical capacity to power computing equipment and a further 60 MW of cooling capacity. The company is banking on further growth in data centres driven by the computing demands of artificial intelligence.

Swiss startup Deep Atomic has unveiled a new small modular reactor aimed at data centre operators. In addition to supplying electricity, it is also designed to cool computing equipment. The light-water reactor, called the MK60, has an electrical capacity of 60 MW and a further 60 MW of cooling capacity.

“Data centres are the backbone of digital innovation, but their enormous energy needs are a bottleneck holding back growth,” says William Theron, founder and CEO of Deep Atomic.

The company says that, like other modular reactors, its solution can be scaled up to the capacity of conventional nuclear power units. The MK60 is intended to enable data centres to operate in locations with inadequate energy infrastructure, while producing zero CO2 emissions. Future success is expected to be driven in particular by strong demand for computing power for artificial intelligence.

“The reactor is designed to be installed at a site alongside data centres. It provides reliable, zero-carbon electricity and energy-efficient cooling, significantly reducing the carbon footprint and helping data centres meet their increasingly stringent sustainability targets,” Theron explains.

Collaboration between IT and nuclear energy

Close cooperation with nuclear regulators, with whom Deep Atomic has begun discussions, will be particularly important to the project’s successful implementation. The company must also win over investors willing to use its energy solution.

Deep Atomic still has a long road ahead before serial production and commissioning. According to the company, an advantage is the lower installed capacity, which reduces upfront investment and risks compared with “small” modular reactors with capacities in the hundreds of MW.

“By supplying both electricity and cooling, we address the two main challenges facing data centres: power availability and thermal management. The MK60 uses waste heat for cooling, significantly improving energy efficiency. Our approach opens up new opportunities for data centres and enables operators to expand into locations that were previously unsuitable,” Theron adds in a press release.

Global IT companies are already factoring nuclear energy into their plans as the power requirements of their data centres continue to grow. Microsoft and Google, for example, have signed agreements to purchase nuclear power from both conventional nuclear power plants and small modular reactors.