Crusoe and Aalo Atomics have formed a partnership to establish the world's first specialized AI factory powered by small modular nuclear reactors (XMR).
https://twitter.com/CrusoeAI/status/2082899238044790899
The pilot data center for Crusoe's cloud service, Crusoe Spark, is set to launch in 2027 at the Idaho National Laboratory. This initiative aims to showcase the suitability of nuclear power for AI workloads.
By the end of 2029, the companies plan to deploy Aalo Pods and XMR power plants with a total capacity of 50 MW across Crusoe's data centers.
Matt Loshak, CEO of Aalo Atomics, reported that the company has already begun work on a second reactor adjacent to the test Aalo-X reactor with a capacity of 10 MW in Idaho. This commercial-scale system will generate electricity for Crusoe Spark.
Loshak also mentioned that Aalo is among four companies that have achieved criticality for their reactor under the U.S. Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program. However, as noted by TheEnergyMag, this status does not equate to permission for commercial operation.
Additionally, Crusoe is planning to expand its campus in Goodnight, Texas, with the construction of two new buildings costing approximately $1 billion. According to a submission to the state's Department of Licensing and Regulation, the first building is projected to be completed by August 1, while the second is expected to finish in March 2027.
Ultimately, the facility will consist of at least six buildings, with the first phase requiring up to 530 MW of power.
It is worth noting that researchers from Floodlight have discovered that data center developers in Texas have utilized streamlined permitting processes to commence construction of their own power plants without public discussion of environmental impacts.