Microsoft Shows Off AI-Powered Tool to Simplify Nuclear Energy Permits
Microsoft leverages AI to transform nuclear energy permitting, reducing approval times and costs to meet the energy demands of AI-driven data centers.
Microsoft is using artificial intelligence (AI) to change how nuclear energy permits are given out. This is being done to meet the growing energy needs of data centers that use AI. The tech giant’s AI project aims to speed up and lower the costs of getting new nuclear projects approved. These projects could be very important for powering low-carbon energy options.
AI Meets Nuclear for Sustainable Energy
The primary purpose of Microsoft’s interaction with Terra Praxis is to teach AI systems the nuclear licensing and regulatory documents, and seismical and geographical data. The early drafts of applications will take days to prepare through this AI tool, which could shift how energy permits are issued.
Nelli Babayan, Director of AI at Microsoft, said that licensing was the “biggest bottleneck” for nuclear projects because it takes ten years to get permission. However, recent progress such as Kairos Power’s quick approval for the Hermes 2 plant in Tennessee shows that AI can speed up these processes by a large amount.
Nuclear Energy for AI’s Energy Hunger
Major technology companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are already exploring nuclear power to run their artificial intelligence data centers which are very power-intensive. In September in one of its daring moves, the firm joined others to reactivate Pennsylvania’s dormant Three Mile Island plant. That’s because if there is any, little equipment is already in place, therefore, new nuclear projects have to get over many regulatory barriers.
The US Department of Energy says that hundreds of coal power plants could be turned into nuclear power plants, which could cut the cost of building them by 15 to 35 percent. Supporters say that to get cost-effective deployment, fleet-scale projects are needed to update many places at the same time.
A Bipartisan Push for Reform
Critics say the permit process is very complicated and inefficient, and Microsoft’s AI-powered tool is in line with calls from both parties to make it easier. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is looking into how to use AI to improve the way it reviews things. This is a sign of a larger move toward change.
Thus, Microsoft’s efforts to implement AI into the approval process for nuclear energy may provide a solution for more effective power development in terms of innovation and climate.
