Technology agnostic approach key to managing data centre energy demand
Nuclear for Australia
26 August 2026
***Nuclear for Australia experts are available for comment***
As National Cabinet meets today to discuss national standards on data centres, nuclear energy advocates say its time to put all technologies on the table to meet massive energy demands, without impacting power prices for households.
Nuclear for Australia Founder Will Shackel said that nuclear energy is playing a role in powering the data centre industry internationally.
"Australia's energy demands are only growing, and if we want to be an AI and data centre powerhouse, first we need the power. Australians’ energy bills can’t be the sacrificial lamb here,” Mr Shackel said.
"That means Australia needs more reliable power. For all our sakes, that power should not be fossil fuels like gas and diesel.
“Anthropic is reportedly interested in delivering up to five gigawatts in NSW alone - with numbers like that, nuclear is the low emissions option we need to increase power supply, and advanced reactors are the key.”
Significant progress has been made in recent months in the development of advanced nuclear reactors, showing that a smaller scale, fast deliver approach is no longer just theoretical, but deployable.
Since June 2026, six advanced reactor companies (Australian-founded Deployable, Antares, Valar, Aalo, Oklo and Westinghouse) have achieved criticality, a crucial step in commercialising advanced nuclear technologies.
Texas-based Aalo, has designed a microreactor specifically to supply data centres, which is designed as standardised modules that are manufactured in a facility, then assembled onsite. The approach intends to overcome the critique that nuclear is ‘too slow and two expensive’, with the first reactor was built in just eight months.
Yesterday, Westinghouse also successfully completed zero-power criticality testing for its eVinci™ microreactor, validating the models and core design assumptions of its technology.
AI and data centre investors including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta and Nvidia have all signed agreements to utilise or bring online nuclear energy sources to power their operations.
“Minister Bowen said that cost and time, not safety, are the issue with nuclear. If that’s the case, then there’s no harm in lifting the outdated bans on nuclear, because if the economics don’t stack up, these companies won’t invest in it,” Mr Shackel said.
“If Government plans to make investors supply their own power, those investors should be allowed to explore all the options, including advanced nuclear.”
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Attached is an extract from the Nuclear Energy Agency’s 2026 ‘Nuclear Energy Outlook: Global Installed Capacity to 2050 and Beyond’, which details recent announcements by technology and data centre companies to support new nuclear investments.
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