Ctg sit23 hub banner.jpg

Microsoft taps Archie Manoharan as director for nuclear-powered datacentre revolution

Move follows recent hiring of Erin Henderson as the director of nuclear development acceleration

Microsoft taps energy veteran Archie Manoharan as Project Director for nuclear-powered datacentre revolution

Image:

Microsoft taps energy veteran Archie Manoharan as Project Director for nuclear-powered datacentre revolution

Microsoft has appointed Archana "Archie" Manoharan as its Director of Nuclear Technologies in its quest to develop small modular nuclear reactors for datacentres.

With datacentres consuming a significant portion of global electricity (between 1 and 1.5% globally,) and the advent of energy-intensive technologies like AI, Microsoft is taking a unique approach to power its infrastructure sustainably.

Manoharan, a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the energy sector, was previously the Director of Nuclear Strategy and Programs at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), a company at the forefront of Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) technology development.

In her role at USNC, Manoharan spearheaded the company's long-term nuclear strategy and fostered key stakeholder relationships crucial for the deployment of MMR technologies. Her leadership at USNC also extended to managing the Department of Energy (DOE) loan programme application efforts.

Manoharan said that she was delighted to join Microsoft as the Director of Nuclear Technologies.

"Microsoft is proud to be part of the global effort to decarbonize the electricity sector and empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. I am eager to contribute to this vision!" she added.

Manoharan's appointment follows Microsoft's recent hiring of Erin Henderson as the director of nuclear development acceleration.

Henderson, a veteran from the Tennessee Valley Authority electricity company, brings her expertise as the GM of transmission projects to the forefront of Microsoft's nuclear ambitions.

Last September, Computing reported that Microsoft was gearing up to construct a global nuclear energy infrastructure dedicated to powering datacentres housing AI systems.

The company's strategic initiative was highlighted in a job advertisement, which revealed that Microsoft was actively seeking an expert in nuclear energy regulation who could oversee the construction of Small Modular Nuclear reactors (SMRs).

Microsoft's interest in SMRs or MMRs stems from their compact size (up to 300 MW in output) and modular design.

These reactors can be prefabricated off-site and transported to datacentre locations, potentially making them more cost-effective compared to large-scale fission reactors.

Microsoft, along with other players in the datacentre industry, is exploring nuclear power for two significant reasons.

Firstly, there is a pressing need to shift away from fossil fuels to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Secondly, the exponential growth in datacentres' energy consumption, driven by the demand for more powerful hardware for AI processing, necessitates innovative and sustainable solutions.

Microsoft's long-term vision in the energy sector is evidenced by its power purchase agreement with Helion Energy, a Washington-based company aiming to build the world's first operational nuclear fusion.

Microsoft has also taken significant steps in procuring Clean Energy Credits (CECs) from Ontario Power Generation and securing a 24/7 nuclear power deal with Constellation for its Boydton datacentre. Additionally, Microsoft's collaboration with Terra Praxis to streamline the regulatory process for SMRs underscores the company's dedication to overcoming challenges in the nuclear industry.

The move towards nuclear power comes amidst global efforts highlighted in COP28, where nations pledged to triple power from nuclear sources by 2050.

Despite challenges faced by the SMR industry, Microsoft's strategic initiatives and key appointments position the tech giant at the forefront of the evolving landscape of nuclear-powered technologies.

Microsoft taps Archie Manoharan as director for nuclear-powered datacentre revolution

Move follows recent hiring of Erin Henderson as the director of nuclear development acceleration

Microsoft has appointed Archana "Archie" Manoharan as its Director of Nuclear Technologies in its quest to develop small modular nuclear reactors for datacentres.

Finance

ChatGPT maker OpenAI could lose $5bn in 2024, report

Corporate

CrowdStrike outage to cost $44m per Fortune 500 company, report

Threats and Risks

CrowdStrike: Thousands of typosquatting domains registered after global outage