Crusoe and Aalo Atomics have teamed up to create the first AI factory that will utilize small modular nuclear reactors (XMR) for energy. The initiative is set to unfold with the launch of Crusoe Spark's pilot data center in 2027 at the Idaho National Laboratory, aimed at proving the viability of nuclear energy for artificial intelligence workloads.
By 2029, the partnership plans to roll out Aalo Pods and XMR plants, achieving a combined capacity of 50 MW across Crusoe's facilities. Matt Loshak, CEO of Aalo Atomics, shared that development of a second reactor is already underway near the existing test reactor in Idaho, which has a capacity of 10 MW and will support the Crusoe Spark project.
While Aalo Atomics is one of four companies to reach criticality under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program, this milestone does not yet grant them commercial operational status. Furthermore, Crusoe is preparing an extensive expansion of its campus in Goodnight, Texas, with a $1 billion investment for two new buildings. The first structure is expected to be completed by August 2024, with the second slated for March 2027. When finished, the facility will encompass at least six buildings and potentially require up to 530 MW of power.
