Energy Vault, NuCube Energy to power AI data centers with nuclear microreactors

To raise the sustainability momentum in the green energy space, the Energy Vault Holdings, a leader in sustainable grid-scale energy storage solutions, has announced strategic partnership with nuclear tech firm NuCube Energy to accelerate the delivery of NuCube’s NuSun platform. NuSun is a dedicated deployment of NuCube technology to meet large energy use sites such as data centers.

The joint technical development effort will focus on the integration of the NuSun platform with VaultOS Energy Management System (EMS) and B-VAULT Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of Energy Vault to enable rapid deployment of carbon-free, safe and cost-effective baseload generation with the operational flexibility required by data centers and large energy users.

Through this collaboration, Energy Vault and NuCube will seek to accelerate the deployment of the NuSun platform integrated with VaultOS software controls, grid services and accompanying energy storage systems (ESS) by the end of 2028. Energy Vault said that it will leverage expertise in advanced material science technologies from its gravity storage research and development to expedite the development of shielding and containment systems utilized by NuSun.

As part of the strategic partnership, Energy Vault will design, engineer, and deploy customized software capability within its VaultOS software suite to enable joint control of NuSun and Energy Vault’s proprietary B-VAULT BESS product. This will enable battery storage of excess energy generated during periods of lower demand and dispatch of stored energy during peak demand helping to ensure AI data centers can operate 24/7 without any power or business disruption. The integration of the NuSun hardware stack into Energy Vault’s VaultOS software platform will also unlock multi-unit project deployments and enable dynamic load-following capabilities across multiple reactor units, improving responsiveness and efficiency for diverse energy demands.

The official statement held that NuSun, the result of more than 100 years of combined nuclear industry experience, is an extremely safe, advanced nuclear microreactor that combines cutting edge technology like TRISO fuel and heat pipes for the production of heat and a proprietary heat to electricity conversion system that drastically reduces the number of components. This combination of technologies eliminates most moving parts, creating a walk away safe nuclear reactor that provides large energy users, such as data centers, with zero-carbon power and continuous operation for many years without refueling. Several modules will be assembled to match data center power needs, allowing for streamlined permitting and scalable deployment. This flexible baseload solution will serve the U.S. data center market estimated to consume 500 TWh by 2028.

Cristian Rabiti, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, NuCube Energy, said, “Its design simplicity is the key to achieving low cost and a high degree of safety. By coupling the NuSun platform with Energy Vault’s digital and hardware platform, we expect to be able to improve the operational flexibility and efficiency of NuSun for single and multi-unit configurations, ensuring that AI data centers can easily incorporate NuSun in their power procurement operations and manage fluctuations in demand to operate continuously.”

“As the demand for AI data centers continues to surge, ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted power supply – and, necessarily, storage – has become paramount,” said Marco Terruzzin, Chief Commercial and Product Officer, Energy Vault.