The explosive growth of artificial intelligence has a hidden cost that is increasingly hard to ignore: energy. According to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), data center electricity consumption soared 17% in 2025, and is expected to double by 2030. Ever more complex AI models require an immense amount of electricity to run, and this is forcing the tech industry to look for urgent solutions.
Interestingly, this need is driving a genuine nuclear energy renaissance. Big tech companies are investing heavily in small modular reactors (SMRs), and the pipeline of deals between data center operators and nuclear projects has grown from 25 gigawatts at the end of 2024 to 45 gigawatts today. Amazon, for example, backs X-Energy, which plans an IPO of up to $800 million.
Although AI consumes a lot of energy, it could also be the key to optimizing our power grids and accelerating the transition towards more sustainable sources. A delicate balance that will define the future of technology and of the planet.
