Amazon is placing a massive bet on nuclear energy to power its rapidly expanding data center footprint, throwing its weight behind a proposed 960-megawatt facility in Indiana. The project, anchored by a multi-reactor development strategy, relies on technology from X-energy to supply high-output electricity directly to the regional power grid and Amazon's server farms.
The ambitious proposal centers on the deployment of twelve small modular reactors at the former Breed coal generating station site in Sullivan County, Indiana. X-energy's design utilizes helium gas for cooling and specially engineered TRISO fuel particles, which are built to withstand extreme temperatures and reduce reliance on conventional active safety mechanisms. While Amazon has not publicly confirmed the exact financial breakdown of this specific installation, the tech giant has committed billions broadly to nuclear initiatives, building on a prior $700 million funding round it led for X-energy in 2024.
Despite the high-profile backing, bringing the 960-megawatt installation to life faces significant hurdles. The United States has yet to commercialize a small modular reactor for electricity generation, meaning the Indiana proposal must navigate a complex landscape of regulatory approvals, construction planning, and environmental reviews. Project representatives estimate the facility could become operational by the mid-2030s, though that timeline remains provisional as developers work through federal and local authorizations.
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