By Asmita - May 16, 2025
AWS CEO urges significant expansion of nuclear energy in the UK to support increasing power demands of AI data centres. AWS plans to invest £8 billion in new data centres and emphasizes the need for nuclear power given the sector's energy requirements for uninterrupted operations. With AI adoption on the rise, renewable energy alone is insufficient, leading to a push for nuclear solutions from tech giants like Google and Microsoft to decarbonize industry and ensure reliable electricity supply for the future.
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Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman has called for a significant expansion of nuclear energy in the UK to meet the soaring power demands of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. AWS, the world’s largest cloud computing provider, plans to invest £8 billion in new UK data centres over the next four years, underscoring the scale of energy required to support AI-driven services. Garman described nuclear power as a “great solution” for the sector’s needs, emphasizing its ability to provide zero-carbon, 24/7 electricity reliably-qualities essential for the uninterrupted operation of data centres.
Currently, the UK’s 500 data centres account for 2.5% of the country’s electricity consumption, a figure projected to rise to 6% by 2030. In comparison, Ireland’s 80 data centres already consume 21% of its total power, which could reach 30% in the same period. By 2050, UK data centres are expected to use nearly as much energy as all current industrial users combined, according to the national grid operator. This rapid growth is driven by the widespread adoption of AI, with AWS estimating that 52% of businesses now incorporate AI, and a new company adopts it every minute.
AWS is already the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy and has supported over 40 solar and wind projects in the UK. However, Garman argues that renewables alone cannot meet the sector’s round-the-clock energy needs, making nuclear a critical component for future-proofing the UK’s digital infrastructure. The UK government is responding with plans for dedicated nuclear plants to power data centre districts and is considering streamlined planning for new nuclear projects, including small modular reactors (SMRs).
This push for nuclear is echoed by other tech giants like Google and Microsoft, who are also investing in nuclear solutions for their energy-intensive AI operations. Industry leaders and policymakers see innovative nuclear technologies as central to powering the UK’s AI ambitions, decarbonising industry, and delivering low-cost, reliable electricity for the future.
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