A small modular reactor (SMR) has been designed by Switzerland-based Deep Atomic specifically to provide power and cooling to data centers.

The MK60 light water SMR incorporates multiple passive safety systems in a compact, scalable unit that generates up to 60 MWe. An additional 60 MW of cooling capacity is produced through what the company terms its integrated data center-centric design approach. The reactor is tailored for diverse data center operations, including traditional cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Data center operators can deploy this scalable power solution in various locations, including those with limited grid access. The MK60 can also be sited closer to urban areas due to its advanced safety features.

SMR technology is steadily increasing its power contributions to this sector, as signaled by the growing number of data centers adopting nuclear power sources. Amazon Web Services recently signed an agreement with Energy Northwest, a consortium of state public utilities, that will enable development of four advanced SMRs. Google has also signed a corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple SMRs from Karios Power, with an expected deployment date in 2035.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy has launched applications for $900 million in funding to support the domestic deployment of SMRs, which will support the private sector in establishing a pathway to deploying a fleet of Gen III+ SMRs across the country.