Amazon Collaborates on AI Infrastructure Powered by Advanced Nuclear Energy in the U.S.

In a significant move towards sustainable energy, Amazon, X-Energy, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corporation (KHNP), and Doosan Enerbility have announced a strategic partnership to scale the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.

This partnership follows a previous collaboration between Amazon and X-Energy, aiming to bring more than 5 GW of small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) projects online in the U.S. by 2039. Amazon's commitment to nuclear energy is evident, having recently invested over $1 billion in nuclear energy projects and technologies.

At the heart of this partnership is X-Energy's innovative SMR reactor, the Xe-100. This reactor operates at temperatures higher than 750°C and contains more than 200,000 TRISO-X-based fuel pebbles, allowing it to run without fuel interruption for 60 years. X-Energy's TRISO-X fuel seals uranium particles in a protective coating, making it highly resistant to fuel failure and the release of radioactive materials.

Doosan has agreed to secure the manufacturing capabilities required for the deployment of Xe-100 modules. Under the partnership, KHNP, Doosan, and Korean industrial partners have agreed to support the deployment of over five GW of new nuclear energy across the U.S. The aim is to mobilize up to $50 billion in public and private investment to support the future of nuclear energy in the U.S.

The partnership is part of Amazon's efforts to move beyond renewable energy to achieve its sustainability goals. AWS Head of Worldwide Energy, Vibhu Kaushik, stated that data centers are critical infrastructure needed to support AI leadership. He also mentioned that the power needs of data centers continue to accelerate to meet the growing needs of customers. The increasing demand for generative AI will require different sources of energy than originally projected by Amazon.

X-Energy, a developer of nuclear reactor and fuel technology based in Rockville, Maryland, was founded in 2009. KHNP, with its experience of constructing and operating 36 nuclear power plants since 1971, brings valuable expertise to the partnership.

The collaboration between the United States and South Korea in the nuclear sector is vital to preserving American leadership in the AI race and surpassing China as the leader in nuclear development. In 2025, X-energy and Centrus Energy formed a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of small modular reactors and TRISO-X fuels targeting the United States.

Notably, Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund led a $700 million financing round for X-Energy to support the commercialization of the company's SMR technology. X-Energy's CEO, J. Clay Sell, stated that the partnership will ensure the best positioning to accelerate the Xe-100 SMR into the marketplace.

Amazon achieved its 100% clean energy goal for its global operations 7 years ahead of schedule, demonstrating its commitment to a sustainable future. This new partnership with X-Energy, KHNP, and Doosan is a significant step towards that future, aiming to enable over five gigawatts of new nuclear energy in the U.S.