Micro-reactors for AI processing in data centers

NANO Nuclear’s 5-MW Electricity Generator in a Shipping Container

Nov. 19, 2024

James Walker, CEO of NANO Nuclear, discusses the advent of micro-reactor systems, including the company’s commercial designs that output up to 5 MW.

Andy Turudic

Related To: Electronic Design

Insane levels of electrical power are needed to support AI in data centers, and the electrification of mobility means development of remote locations for the extraction of critical mineral resources. This includes the powering of fully electric 1-MW mining trucks.

A number of startups are developing small modular reactors (SMRs) in the 20- to 500-MW power output range, requiring extensive site development, construction, and support resources. However, NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:NNE) is uniquely positioned in the micro-reactor space with two commercial micro-reactor designs that output up to 5 MW, integrating them with the complete electrical generator housed in an ISO shipping container.

In this podcast, Electronic Design’s mostly-Analog editor Andy Turudic discusses markets, applications, Red October “caterpillars,” engineering design, and operational considerations of these micro-reactor systems with our guest, NANO Nuclear’s CEO, James Walker. Have a listen on your commute or while munching on that egg salad sandwich at your desk.

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About the Author

Andy Turudic | Technology Editor, Electronic Design

Andy Turudic is a Technology Editor for Electronic Design Magazine, primarily covering Analog and Mixed-Signal circuits and devices. He holds a Bachelor's in EE from the University of Windsor (Ontario Canada) and has been involved in electronics, semiconductors, and gearhead stuff, for a bit over a half century.

"AndyT" brings his multidisciplinary engineering experience from companies that include National Semiconductor (now Texas Instruments), Altera (Intel), Agere, Zarlink, TriQuint,(now Qorvo), SW Bell (managing a research team at Bellcore, Bell Labs and Rockwell Science Center), Bell-Northern Research, and Northern Telecom and brings publisher employment experience as a paperboy for The Oshawa Times.

After hours, when he's not working on the latest invention to add to his portfolio of 16 issued US patents, he's lending advice and experience to the electric vehicle conversion community from his mountain lair in the Pacific Northwet[sic].

AndyT's engineering blog, "Nonlinearities," publishes the 1st and 3rd monday of each month. Andy's OpEd may appear at other times, with fair warning given by the Vu meter pic.