Blue Energy and Crusoe plan Texas nuclear-powered data centre

Blue Energy says its gas-to-nuclear conversion will see it power the proposed 1,600 acre Crusoe AI factory campus from 2028, with a transition to nuclear generation by 2031.

Jake Jurewicz, Blue Energy Co-Founder and CEO, said: "This partnership with AI infrastructure leader Crusoe marks a key milestone for Blue Energy as we work to meet rising global energy demand and, for the first time in the nuclear industry's history, build a plant with cost and schedule certainty. We're proud to be working with Port of Victoria leaders to establish our footprint in Texas and look forward to engaging with local and regional partners, including the City of Victoria and nearby Bloomington, as we take steps to build the world’s first project-financed nuclear power plant."

Andrew Likens, Crusoe Vice President of Energy Infrastructure and Development, said: "Blue Energy’s gas-to-nuclear approach delivers exactly what we need: unrivalled speed to market using existing fuel sources, combined with a clear, rapid transition to the massive, carbon-free baseload power that only nuclear power can provide. This partnership demonstrates how we’re building the future of AI sustainably and at scale."

US Representative Michael Cloud said: "The Blue Energy-Crusoe partnership means jobs and ... strengthens America’s energy independence and positions our nation to lead in exporting nuclear technology to meet the world’s rapidly increasing energy demand."

The demand for clean, reliable electricity has been emphasised by the AI data centre and manufacturing boom, and the global energy generation mix must include more nuclear power if it is to decarbonise while meeting growing demand affordably and securely, the company, which was founded in 2023, says.

Blue Energy says that reactors make up less than 10% of the cost of a nuclear power plant, with most of the cost coming from "construction and regulatory challenges in the rest of the plant". Its model is for a modular, reactor-agnostic power plant architecture to house the next generation of nuclear reactors using centralised manufacturing at existing shipyards. It says this will cut construction time, with the temporary use of gas generation meaning power can be delivered within 36 months.