Google chief opens for nuclear power for electricity for the data center in Torsboda

When SVT meets Adam Elman, Google's head of sustainability for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, he opens up about not only compensating the electricity consumption in the company's data centers with investments in Swedish wind power, currently 700 megawatt hours according to his own statement, but in the future also through nuclear power.

- We are already investing today in small modular nuclear reactors in the USA, says Adam Elman, who at the same time points out that local conditions and regulations must be taken into account.

In Sweden, investment is being made in small modular reactors (SMR) at the nuclear power plant in Ringhals. There are currently no stated plans for SMR in the Timrå area.

- First of all, we have to make sure to support the electricity grid, says Adam Elman, but how this is to be done in Torsboda is still unclear.

Google writes to SVT that when it comes to advanced nuclear power and small modular reactors, the company focuses on being a strategic cooperation partner and buyer of the electricity, i.e. not being the ones who build them themselves:

"We work closely with specialized technology developers, energy companies and local communities who support the development - rather than owning or operating nuclear power reactors themselves."

Cheap Swedish electricity from wind power and hydropower is an important factor for Google's plans to buy the 200-hectare industrial site in Torsboda in Timrå municipality. The planned facility requires approximately as much electricity as three cities the size of Uppsala. In the initial situation, it is about 600 – 1000 megawatts. By extension 2000 megawatts.

- Clean energy is important to us, but so are electricity prices, says Adam Elman.

As for Torsboda, he is careful to point out that the purchase of the industrial plot is not yet complete.