AtkinsRéalis and Nvidia Forge Partnership to Design Nuclear-Powered AI Data Centers
April 21, 2026
In a significant move to address the soaring energy demands of artificial intelligence, Canadian engineering giant AtkinsRéalis has entered a strategic partnership with technology leader Nvidia. The collaboration aims to develop integrated design solutions for hyperscale data centers powered by on-site nuclear energy, a model poised to redefine infrastructure for the AI era.
The initiative responds to a critical industry challenge: traditional power grids are increasingly strained by the exponential growth of energy-intensive AI computing. By co-locating small modular reactors (SMRs) with data campuses, the partnership seeks to create a more resilient and sustainable power source. Sam Stephens, Head of Digital for AtkinsRéalis Nuclear, emphasized the transformative potential, stating, "Integrating nuclear power on site changes the scale and layout of an AI campus compared with a conventional data‑centre build, but it also enables more resilient, efficient and sustainable design."
The envisioned nuclear-powered data centers are expected to have capacities ranging from 740 MWe to 1 GWe, comparable to a small nuclear reactor. Nvidia's proprietary computing technologies will be leveraged to streamline the planning and integration process. Stephens highlighted the scalability of the approach, noting, "To scale nuclear power quickly enough, we will need new ways of working, and digitisation promises to provide that breakthrough." Beyond powering AI operations, the model offers community benefits; the nuclear plant would connect to the local grid, providing essential services, while waste heat could be repurposed for cooling to boost sustainability and cut costs.
This partnership signals a potential shift in hyperscale development. While the building footprint may increase, the integrated design of power, cooling, and grid connectivity is projected to result in lower carbon emissions than conventional solutions. "We expect an acceleration of the commissioning of these projects as operators look to secure longer-term power supplies," Stephens added. The move comes as data center construction dominates commercial planning, with spending in the U.S. alone forecast to account for approximately 32 percent of all new commercial construction spending this year.
Source: Dezeen
