NANO Nuclear Energy, a vertically integrated advanced nuclear energy and technology company developing portable clean energy solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Blockfusion Ventures, an affiliate of data center operator Blockfusion USA, Inc.
Under the MOU, NANO Nuclear will lead the technical assessment of advanced power supply systems for Blockfusion’s data center in Niagara Falls, NY. NANO Nuclear will explore the potential integration of its advanced microreactor technologies, evaluating compatibility between its microreactors’ electric output and the artificial intelligence (AI) data center’s energy requirements. NANO Nuclear will also assist Blockfusion in assessing the potential for other clean energy source alternatives like wind and solar. Additionally, considerations will be made in relation to environmental and regulatory constraints, as well as economic feasibility, alongside risk assessments. The MOU is non-binding and non-exclusive, but establishes a collaboration framework for a period of twenty-three months which could lead to the execution of definitive agreements in the future.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with NANO Nuclear on this exciting endeavor,” said Alex Martini, CEO of Blockfusion. “The groundbreaking microreactor technology NANO Nuclear is developing has the potential to revolutionize the way data centers are powered, ensuring a sustainable future while meeting the very large and ever-growing energy demands of data center and artificial intelligence sectors.”
“We have long considered datacenters focused on AI, quantum computing and crypto mining as an ideal potential customer for our micro nuclear reactors in development, and this MOU provides an excellent opportunity to explore the real-world demands our microreactors can meet for this important sector,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear. “We are pleased to collaborate with Blockfusion as a fellow New York State, clean energy-focused company on the next steps of optimizing our innovative microreactors. Together, we are committed to maintaining environmentally sustainable operations to meet the high energy demands of artificial intelligence and data centers. We believe that the data and observations arising out of this MOU will be instrumental in further refining and optimizing our microreactor solutions.”
Blockfusion’s facility has undergone a multi-million-dollar conversion from a decommissioned coal power plant to a state-of-the-art data center powered by the hydroelectric energy of Niagara Falls. NANO Nuclear has been tasked with exploring its potential to supplement the Blockfusion’s datacenter’s energy demands during off peak hours or times of disruption. With its potential for reliability and capacity for providing a consistent and clean baseload energy, nuclear power is well-suited for this purpose. NANO Nuclear’s microreactors are being designed for use in remote applications and efficient space usage, and are seeking to offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to other renewable energy solutions which may require additional land or construction.
The ‘ZEUS’ microreactor, designed to fit within the dimensions of a 45-foot high-cube container, features a power conversion unit capable of generating 1 to 2 MW of electricity without the need for a fluid coolant. This fluid-free design simplifies the system, relying entirely on passive components to enhance safety and reliability. Its configuration is being designed to make ‘ZEUS’ suitable for a wide range of applications, including remote data centers, AI and quantum computing, and cryptocurrency mining, among others.
“We are delighted that Blockfusion has chosen us to help research and to meet their energy demands with our next-generation, cutting-edge microreactor solutions,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear Energy. “The ability to meet remote energy demands like Blockfusion’s with minimal environmental impact and high reliability was the driving force behind the inception of NANO Nuclear. It is very gratifying to partner with an established and forward-thinking company that recognizes the potential of our microreactors to provide a sustainable solution to their baseload energy needs.”