Leading technology giants Amazon and Google have committed to a pledge supporting the goal of at least tripling global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. The announcement was made on Wednesday on the sidelines of the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston.
Shale producer Occidental and Japanese heavy machinery firm IHI Corp have also signed the pledge, joining efforts to bolster nuclear energy as a sustainable power source.
“We are truly at the beginning of a new industry,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright in an interview at the conference on Tuesday.
The World Nuclear Association (WNA), which facilitated the pledge, expects further support from industries including maritime, aviation, and oil and gas in the coming months. The initiative builds on a previous commitment made by over 30 countries in 2023, which also aimed to triple nuclear capacity by mid-century.
Nuclear energy currently generates 9% of the world’s electricity through 439 reactors, according to the WNA. The sector is increasingly seen as a viable solution for energy-intensive data centres, with major technology firms having already signed multi-billion-dollar agreements with utility providers.
Rising demand for nuclear power has also driven up uranium prices. In January last year, uranium oxide prices reached their highest level in over 16 years amid supply concerns and growing demand. Supply constraints persist, as global uranium production remains concentrated in Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia, which together accounted for around two-thirds of global output in 2022.
As of early 2025, there were approximately 411 operational nuclear reactors worldwide, with a combined capacity of 371 gigawatts. Amazon, which has invested over $1 billion in nuclear energy projects, is also exploring small modular reactor technology as part of its energy strategy.
