Researchers at Tsinghua University in China have successfully demonstrated a meltdown-proof nuclear fission reactor. The twin reactor design can generate 105 MW of power each. It can cool itself down without an external power source, reaching stable temperatures around 35 hours after shutdown. Construction of the facility started in 2016, with commercial operations beginning only in December last year. One drawback of the technology is that it can't be retrofitted onto existing nuclear reactors.

The Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan is set to reopen as early as next year, driven by the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence (AI). The U.S. Department of Energy has provided a significant $1.52 billion loan to Holtec Palisades, marking a pioneering effort to restore a nuclear facility. This funding is part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment project, which aims to bolster the nuclear energy sector while addressing climate goals. The reopening of the Palisades plant is expected to generate carbon pollution-free energy and create approximately 600 jobs in the region. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer emphasized that this initiative will help keep energy costs low, enhance domestic energy production, and improve the state's competitiveness for future economic development. The plant had been shut down in 2022, but the renewed interest in nuclear power has prompted a change in plans from Holtec, which initially intended to dismantle the facility. The surge in energy requirements is not limited to Michigan. Microsoft has also announced its need for substantial energy to support its AI operations, leading to plans for the reopening of the Three Mile Island nuclear facility by 2028. This site is historically significant as it was the location of the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history in 1979. The International Energy Agency has projected that data centers will account for a third of new energy demands in the U.S. through 2026, with global electricity consumption from data centers expected to more than double, reaching 1,000 terawatt-hours. The growing energy needs associated with AI and data centers are prompting a reevaluation of energy sources, with nuclear power gaining renewed attention as a viable solution to meet these demands while also addressing environmental concerns.