New Projects - Nuclear

New York combined cycle plant eyed for microreactor development for data centers

This collaboration leverages NANO Nuclear’s advanced nuclear reactor technologies in development to provide energy for Digihost’s operations, including AI-driven data centers and digital asset colocation programs.

New York combined cycle plant eyed for microreactor development for data centers

Digihost, an energy infrastructure company developing data centers, and NANO Nuclear Energy, an advanced nuclear energy and technology company, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore developing a microreactor at Digihost’s 60 MW upstate New York power plant.

This collaboration leverages NANO Nuclear’s advanced nuclear reactor technologies in development to provide energy for Digihost’s operations, including AI-driven data centers and digital asset colocation programs. The non-binding MOU is the first step in a broader strategic relationship, the companies said, and it establishes a framework aimed at “enhancing public understanding and community support” for nuclear energy, and particularly advanced nuclear technologies such as NANO Nuclear’s ‘ZEUS’ and ‘ODIN’ portable microreactors, which are designed to reliably and safely provide consistent and carbon-neutral baseload energy.

“The opportunity to collaborate with NANO Nuclear represents a bold move toward achieving our sustainability goals,” said Michel Amar, CEO of Digihost Technology. “By leveraging NANO Nuclear’s advanced nuclear reactor technology, we gain the potential ability to scale quickly across our existing power assets following successful initial deployment. This collaboration positions Digihost at the forefront of delivering reliable, modular baseline power, enabling the development of Tier III HPC data centers in locations previously deemed unfeasible. This strategic move also allows us to capitalize on the rapidly expanding Tier III data center market, further solidifying our leadership in the industry.”

The deployment of NANO Nuclear’s advanced nuclear reactor technology is expected to replace Digihost’s existing infrastructure, advancing Digihost’s commitment to carbon neutrality and providing baseload power for Digihost’s expanding data center operations. The project’s timeline aligns with the NANO Nuclear’s overall expectations for licensing and deployment, with reactor integration within Digihost’s operations targeted for 2031. Before deployment, the companies will conduct a site assessment of Digihost’s location, initiate site preparations and develop a phased implementation strategy, collaborate on the design, construction, testing, and commissioning of an advanced microreactor power system, and work together on regulatory and licensing activities. The companies will also look to further memorialize their relationship with definitive agreements.

The ZEUS microreactor prototype is designed to harness thermal energy for direct heat applications or to convert it into electric power. This allows for diverse applications, ranging from heating to electricity generation.

The ODIN reactor will operate at higher than conventional water-cooled reactor temperatures, which will boost resilience and conversion efficiency in generating electricity.

According to NANO, the ODIN design aims to take advantage of the natural convection of coolant for heat transfer to the power conversion cycle at full power and for decay heat removal during reactor shutdown, operational transients, and off-normal conditions.

Both microreactors use High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel, are modular, and are easily transportable, NANO said.