Session Description from 2024 DCF Trends Summit Program:

The Data Center Nuclear Energy Frontier

Moderated by Ali Ruckteschler, VP Chief Procurement Officer for Equinix, this panel session will begin by addressing the reality that more data centers are needed now and can be built in a matter of months, while asking if the nuclear industry is keeping pace with the needs of its perfect customer. SEL’s Stephen Middlekauff will examine the leading providers of small and advanced nuclear reactors (SMR/AR) and their timelines for design, approval, and construction. He'll also address the hurdles and complexities that impact cost and implementation schedules, including the regulatory and political obstacles impacting the nuclear industry. For his part, Brian Gitt, head of business development for Oklo, a startup developing next-generation nuclear technologies to deliver reliable low-cost clean energy 24/7, will discuss how small nuclear plants plan to be cost competitive with other energy sources and how nuclear power purchase agreements provide data centers with new electricity supply options. Gitt's talk will provide updated target deployment timelines, and explain how nuclear power projects navigate Federal, State, and local permit requirements. He'll explain Oklo's plans to recycle used nuclear fuel, and how small nuclear plants can cool themselves without relying on people, pumps, or mechanical systems to remove heat. Nano Nuclear CEO James Walker will discuss future data center prospects for the company’s microreactors and HALEU energy fuel. Industry veteran Ralph Hunter, former President at Constellation Generation Development and now serving as President and CEO of Orion Nuclear Energy Corporation, will impart industry insights regarding the use of advanced nuclear for data centers."