TerraPower's nuclear secret: molten salt storage for AI data centers

terrapower is preparing to launch a nuclear-powered data center project, potentially for a client like meta, to address the massive electricity needs of ai. the company's 345-megawatt natrium reactor utilizes a molten salt storage system that captures excess heat, allowing the turbine to ramp up output quickly without altering the nuclear reaction itself. this design overcomes the inflexibility of traditional nuclear plants, meeting the volatile power demands of gpu clusters that have reportedly stressed natural gas turbines. by maintaining a high capacity factor while offering load flexibility, terrapower aims to provide a scalable solution for energy-intensive ai infrastructure, with construction on the first commercial unit expected to start in 2027.