Italy advances Small Modular Reactors to supply power for AI data centers

Italy is reviving its nuclear agenda after Parliament approved a bill that could allow small modular reactors (SMRs) to contribute 10‑20% of the country’s electricity by 2050. Experts note that SMRs are compact, factory‑built units ranging around 300 MWe, offering greater safety through passive cooling systems and modular maintenance. The technology is already operating in China and Russia, with Western deployments expected in the early 2030s.

Big‑tech firms such as Amazon, Google and Meta have pledged over 10 GW of new nuclear capacity to meet the growing energy demand of AI data centers worldwide. Projects are under construction in the United States and China, and Italian policymakers see SMRs as a way to provide stable, low‑carbon power for data‑intensive facilities, as well as for industry, remote communities and military bases. The reactors promise lower land use, continuous output and reduced CO₂ emissions compared with renewable sources, positioning them as a potential pillar of Italy’s decarbonisation strategy.