Big Idea:

AWS has acquired Talen Energy's Cumulus Data data center campus in Pennsylvania for $650 million, which is located at a nuclear power station and includes all the land, power infrastructure, and intangibles.

State of Play: 

AWS plans to develop up to a 960MW data center campus in northeast Pennsylvania, with two 10-year extension options tied to nuclear license renewals and minimum contractual power commitments that ramp up in 120 MW increments.

Why It Matters:

Talen Energy will supply AWS with direct-connect, carbon-free power for the data center campus, and under a separate agreement, Talen will also receive additional revenue from AWS related to sales of carbon-free energy to the grid.

Key Details:

• AWS acquired the Cumulus data center campus for $650 million, planning to develop a 960MW facility.
• The campus is powered by the 2.5GW Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, one of the largest nuclear power plants in the US.

Flashback:

Talen Energy, founded in 2015, established Cumulus Growth in 2020, comprising Cumulus Data for hyperscale data centers and Cumulus Coin for digital currency mining.

What's Next:

There are numerous synergies between datacenter infrastructure and cryptocurrency mining sites, so similar acquisitions are likely to occur in the future.

The Bottom Line:

AWS's acquisition of a nuclear-powered data center campus underscores the tech industry's shift towards sustainable energy solutions, with significant implications for the future of data center operations and green energy adoption.

Yes, but:

While nuclear power offers a carbon-free energy source, concerns about nuclear waste and safety remain, highlighting the need for continued innovation in sustainable energy technologies.