Meta’s Nuclear Power Play 2025: From SMR Ambitions to GW-Scale Deals

Industry Adoption: Meta’s Pivot from RFP to PPA in the Nuclear Energy Race

Meta Platforms’ engagement with the nuclear sector has rapidly evolved from long-term ambition to decisive, near-term action, marking a critical inflection point for both the company and the energy industry. Between 2021 and 2024, Meta’s strategy was one of forward planning, culminating in its December 2024 Request for Proposals (RFP). This RFP sought developers for 1 to 4 gigawatts (GW) of new nuclear capacity, open to both large reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with a target operational date in the early 2030s. This initial move signaled a strategic recognition that intermittent renewables alone could not power its AI-driven future, positioning Meta as a potential anchor customer for a nascent SMR market still grappling with high costs and regulatory uncertainty. The focus was on future builds, an expression of long-term need rather than an immediate solution.

The landscape shifted dramatically in 2025. Meta moved from soliciting future projects to securing existing, operational assets. The landmark event was the June 2025 signing of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Constellation Energy for the entire 1.1 GW output of the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. This single deal provided a tangible, GW-scale, 24/7 carbon-free power source to support its AI data center expansion. This pivot reveals a sophisticated two-phase strategy: secure immediate, reliable baseload power from proven nuclear assets to de-risk near-term operations, while simultaneously continuing to cultivate the long-term SMR ecosystem. This is further validated by its pledge to triple nuclear generation by 2050 alongside other tech giants. The variety of actions—from a broad RFP for future tech to a specific PPA for existing plants and a high-level policy pledge—demonstrates a comprehensive approach to energy security, creating new opportunities for existing nuclear operators while providing a credible demand signal for SMR developers.

Table: Meta Platforms’ Strategic Investments in AI and Energy Infrastructure

Table: Meta Platforms’ Nuclear and SMR-Related Partnerships

Geography: How Meta’s Nuclear Strategy is Shaping US Energy Hubs

Meta’s geographical focus for its nuclear strategy has sharpened considerably. In 2024, the company’s activity was geographically diffuse, defined by a US-wide RFP that did not specify locations. It was a broad search for partners across the nation, driven by a generalized need for data center power. This approach reflected the early, exploratory phase of its nuclear ambitions.

By 2025, the map gained clear focal points. The 1.1 GW PPA with Constellation firmly established Illinois as the first major hub for Meta’s nuclear-powered operations, directly linking the Clinton Clean Energy Center to its expanding data center network in the region. This move not only secured power but also played a role in extending the life of a key energy asset in the state. Concurrently, Meta’s announcement of a $1.5 billion data center in Texas highlights another critical geography where the company’s immense power needs will likely drive it to seek similar large-scale energy deals, potentially from the state’s existing nuclear fleet or future projects. Furthermore, the formation of a working group in Poland to explore SMRs for data centers signals that Meta’s strategic thinking is extending to its international operations, identifying emerging SMR ecosystems as potential solutions for its global infrastructure.

Technology Maturity: Meta’s Two-Phase Approach to Nuclear Power

The data reveals a clear evolution in how Meta is approaching nuclear technology maturity. In the 2021-2024 period, the focus was squarely on future-facing, pre-commercial technology from a procurement standpoint. The December 2024 RFP targeted new-build reactors to come online in the “early 2030s,” a timeline that implicitly favored emerging SMRs, which are still in demonstration or pre-deployment phases. At this stage, Meta was acting as a potential catalyst, looking to spur development by signaling massive future demand rather than purchasing an existing product.

In 2025, this strategy bifurcated, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of technology readiness. Meta took a decisive step into the commercial and scaling phase by signing the PPA for the Clinton plant—a large-scale, existing reactor with decades of proven operational history. This move validated mature, commercially available nuclear technology as the immediate, bankable solution to its pressing energy needs. Simultaneously, by continuing to explore SMRs and joining pledges to expand nuclear capacity, Meta is nurturing the next wave of technology. This two-phase approach is a critical validation point: while SMRs represent the ideal long-term vision for scalable, co-located power, Meta is unwilling to wait. It is leveraging fully mature technology for immediate GW-scale deployment today, providing a powerful hedge against the development and regulatory timelines of emerging SMRs.

Table: SWOT Analysis of Meta’s Nuclear Energy Strategy

Forward-Looking Insights and Summary

The events of 2025 signal a clear and aggressive path forward for Meta. The Constellation PPA is not an endpoint but a blueprint. Market actors should expect Meta to replicate this model, actively seeking similar long-term PPAs with existing nuclear operators in other key data center regions like Texas and Europe to meet its immediate, voracious energy needs. This secures its power supply for the medium term, providing a stable foundation for its AI expansion.

The most critical signal to watch in the year ahead will be Meta’s first direct partnership announcement stemming from its 2024 RFP. This will reveal its chosen SMR or advanced reactor technology partners and, more importantly, the commercial structure of the deal. A move beyond a simple PPA toward a direct investment or joint development vehicle would indicate a much deeper, long-term commitment to a specific technology pathway. Concurrently, expect Meta to amplify its policy advocacy, leveraging its market power and its role in the “Triple by 2050” pledge to push for streamlined regulatory and licensing processes for SMRs. Meta’s two-phase strategy is now in full motion: lock down today’s proven power while strategically cultivating tomorrow’s nuclear technology. This proactive, capital-intensive approach is solidifying energy security as a core competitive advantage in the AI race.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Meta pivot from seeking proposals for new reactors in 2024 to buying power from an existing one in 2025?
Meta’s pivot reflects a two-phase strategy to address both immediate and long-term needs. The massive and urgent energy demand from its AI data center expansion required a proven, large-scale power source immediately. The 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the existing Clinton nuclear plant secures this near-term, reliable power, while the company continues to foster the development of future technologies like SMRs for its needs in the 2030s.

Does this mean Meta has abandoned its plan to use Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?
No, Meta has not abandoned SMRs. The company is pursuing a dual strategy: using mature, operational nuclear plants for its immediate GW-scale needs while simultaneously nurturing the long-term SMR ecosystem. Its December 2024 Request for Proposals (RFP) for new nuclear capacity remains a credible signal of future demand, and the article notes Meta is providing a hedge against the development and regulatory timelines of emerging SMRs, not replacing them as a long-term goal.

What is the primary reason for Meta’s sudden, large-scale investment in nuclear power?
The primary driver is the immense energy demand from its massive investment in AI infrastructure. The article highlights a planned $600 billion investment in US AI data center expansion and 2025 capital expenditures of up to $72 billion. AI requires vast amounts of constant, reliable, carbon-free power, which has pushed Meta to secure GW-scale nuclear energy to supplement intermittent renewables.

Where are Meta’s nuclear energy efforts geographically focused?
As of 2025, Meta’s strategy has clear geographical focal points. Illinois is the first major hub, established by the 1.1 GW PPA with the Clinton Clean Energy Center. Texas is highlighted as another critical geography due to a new $1.5 billion data center investment. Additionally, the company is monitoring international opportunities, with Poland mentioned as a region where an SMR ecosystem is emerging to potentially power data centers.

What is the ‘Triple by 2050’ pledge mentioned in the article?
The ‘Triple by 2050’ pledge is a commitment made in May 2025 by Meta, alongside other tech giants like Google and Amazon and various financial institutions. It is a non-monetary, high-level policy pledge to support the goal of tripling global nuclear energy capacity by the year 2050. It serves as a strong market signal to governments and the energy sector that major corporations are backing the expansion of nuclear power.