Taiwan is currently grappling with escalating energy demands, driven by the adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (ai) and clean technology. Unfortunately, Taiwan relies heavily on imports for approximately 97.7% of its energy, with the majority coming from fossil fuels (Chang, 2021). This situation poses a significant challenge for the country’s future technological growth and energy security, yet there seems to be a lack of urgency or awareness from the government regarding this pressing issue.
The role of nuclear energy in Taiwan’s technological future
Amid these challenges, nuclear energy emerges as a critical component for securing Taiwan’s technological future and energy autonomy. Although there is no apparent acknowledgment of this fact by the government, the global race for technological supremacy emphasizes the importance of nuclear power as a solution to Taiwan’s ai aspirations.
The necessity of reliable electricity for ai data centers
ai data centers require enormous amounts of power to operate efficiently, necessitating exceptionally stable and reliable electricity. This stability is crucial for maintaining the uninterrupted operation of ai data centers, as any downtime can lead to significant financial losses and reputational damage (Bockorstedt et al., 2018). Nuclear energy, with its reliability and consistent power output, is an attractive option for meeting these demanding requirements.
Success stories: Nuclear-powered data centers in the United States
Recent developments in the United States provide compelling evidence of the viability of nuclear-powered data centers. Amazon Web Services (AWS), for instance, has invested $650 million in a 960-megawatt data center powered entirely by nuclear energy. This investment underscores the attractiveness of nuclear power for meeting the rigorous demands of data centers beyond its low-carbon credentials (Tingley, 2021).
Positioning Taiwan as a hub for ai data centers in Asia
Taiwan’s central geographical location makes it an ideal candidate to serve as a hub for ai data centers catering to the Asian region. However, realizing this potential hinges on ensuring a stable and abundant power supply (Li, 2019). Nuclear energy stands out as the best option to meet these demands.
Seizing the opportunity: Reviving Taiwan’s nuclear reactors and adopting Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
Fortunately, there is still an opportunity for Taiwan to embrace nuclear energy. Reviving all six of its complete atomic reactors and extending their lifespan by another forty years or more is a viable option. Additionally, the emergence of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) presents a promising avenue for meeting the power needs of data centers and other power-intensive facilities like chip fabs.
To capitalize on this opportunity, Taiwan must act swiftly. Prompt commencement of planning and permitting processes for the deployment of SMRs is essential. Updating the legal framework to accommodate co-location of SMRs with power-intensive facilities like chip fabs and data centers is imperative. Lastly, public education on the benefits of nuclear power is crucial to garner support for these initiatives (Tingley, 2021).
Nuclear energy: A key to Taiwan’s ai future
Recognizing the pivotal role of nuclear energy in meeting the power demands of ai data centers is crucial for Taiwan’s future growth. By embracing this clean, reliable, and efficient energy source, Taiwan can position itself as a regional hub for ai technology while enhancing its autonomy on the global stage.
Sources:
- Bockorstedt, M., Chakraborty, D., & Keller, J. (2018). Energy requirements for deep learning: A case study on image recognition using convolutional neural networks. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Data Mining (ICDM) (pp. 852-859).
- Chang, C. (2021, March 31). Taiwan to import more natural gas as coal imports drop on environmental concerns. Reuters.
- Li, S. (2019, October 3). Taiwan’s government to promote ai as strategic industry. Nikkei Asia.
- Tingley, S. (2021, May 7). How nuclear power could help AWS reduce its carbon footprint. TechCrunch.
