Valar nuclear startup partners with Nvidia on data center aiming to conserve water
Valar Atomics and Nvidia are partnering to develop a small nuclear-powered data center in Utah, aiming to demonstrate water conservation for AI computing facilities using Valar's microreactor and Nvidia's liquid cooling technology. This initiative comes amidst public concern over data center power and water demands. Valar also joined a lawsuit challenging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's licensing authority over microreactors.
Valar Atomics, a nuclear power startup based in California, announced a partnership with Nvidia to develop a small data center in Utah. The collaboration aims to demonstrate how AI computing facilities can conserve water by utilizing Valar's microreactor to power Nvidia's Blackwell AI chip architecture, making it the first time a small reactor has powered a data center. Nvidia previously announced its DSX data center design would use closed-loop liquid cooling to reduce water consumption.
The project addresses growing concerns over the significant power and water demands of U.S. data centers, which have led to public backlash and prompted companies to seek private, "behind-the-meter" power solutions. John Josephakis, an Nvidia global vice president, stated that the partnership explores how waterless advanced nuclear systems could support future AI factories. Valar founder Isaiah Taylor noted the startup's intent to demonstrate quick deployment of nuclear projects despite regulatory challenges.
Valar is part of a Department of Energy pilot program focused on small nuclear reactors. Last year, Valar also joined litigation filed by the states of Texas and Utah against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, arguing that the NRC lacks licensing authority over certain nuclear microreactors and small modular reactors, seeking to transfer that oversight to individual states.