"The war in the Middle East exposed the vulnerable supply chain of natural gas after Iranian drone strikes took out a significant portion of infrastructure in Qatar, a major exporter."
"In the U.S., 40% of the natural gas consumed today goes toward generating electricity, and the industry could face increased competition from new energy sources by the time turbine shortages are resolved."
"SMR startups might have the best shot at displacing natural gas power plants, as their technology builds on proven designs of existing fission reactors."
"Kairos Power, which counts Google as a future customer, is one of the SMR companies aiming to have reactors operational before the decade ends."
The demand for power driven by AI has led tech companies to explore alternative energy sources, particularly fusion and fission startups. Natural gas, while a common choice for baseload power, faces supply chain vulnerabilities highlighted by recent geopolitical events. Delays in gas turbine orders could benefit emerging competitors in the energy sector, particularly small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) and fusion power. Several SMR companies are on track to connect their reactors to the grid within the next decade, potentially displacing natural gas power plants.
Read at TechCrunch
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