NVIDIA partners with nuclear power startup Valar Atomics to develop a small, nuclear-powered AI data center in Utah. The project aims to demonstrate advanced nuclear systems powering future AI infrastructure. It also seeks to conserve water.
Valar's microreactor uses helium for cooling instead of water. This addresses environmental concerns regarding traditional data centers' power and water consumption.
NVIDIA and Valar Atomics announced the collaboration at Valar's Utah site. There, they demonstrated the microreactor powering NVIDIA's latest Blackwell AI chip architecture. This test marked the first time a small reactor powered a data center.
The partnership aligns with NVIDIA's strategy to create sustainable AI solutions. This strategy includes its own closed-loop liquid cooling systems, designed to drastically reduce water usage.