Microsoft is considering using nuclear power to run its large data centers, according to a job posting on its official website. The company is seeking a “principal program manager for nuclear technology” to lead the potential integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors.

This person will be tasked with developing a strategy and roadmap for adopting nuclear technologies, selecting partners and assessing business impact, according to the job description.

 This senior position will be tasked with leading the technology evaluation of SMR and microreactor integration to power the data centers where Microsoft Cloud and AI reside. They will maintain a clear and adaptable roadmap for technology integration, carefully select and manage technology partners and solutions, and continuously evaluate progress and the business impact of implementation.

Note: SMRs are smaller, simpler nuclear fission plants that can be produced on a large scale and are easier to site than traditional nuclear reactors. While no commercial small reactor is yet operational, Microsoft seems interested in its compact size and carbon-free power generation. Since data centers are major energy consumers, Microsoft is looking for ways to reduce costs and environmental footprint.

However, there are still many problems in the deployment of small and medium-sized reactors. The technology is still in development and faces regulatory hurdles. Locating nuclear facilities near data centers could also raise security concerns. Therefore, Microsoft is looking for people with experience in the energy sector and understanding of regulations.

 The ideal candidate will have experience in the energy industry and an in-depth understanding of nuclear technology and regulatory affairs. This position will also be responsible for research and development of other pre-commercial energy technologies.

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Wired reports that hyperscaler data centers are typically 10,000 square feet or larger. While the Dutch government did institute rules in 2022 restricting the construction of such buildings in much of the country, the Microsoft project under construction is effectively exempted.

Another problem is the current nitrogen problem in the Netherlands. The country generates four times more nitrogen than other EU countries and is working to halve these emissions by 2030. However, Microsoft managed to obtain a “tolerance decision” from the local environmental agency, allowing construction of the data center to continue while the agency studies its possible nitrogen emissions. There’s no word yet on what the agency might do if it finds that Microsoft has exceeded its nitrogen limits.

All of this has many local farmers concerned about Microsoft’s impact in the region, including its use of large tracts of farmland and its environmental concerns.

Jeroen Candel, associate professor of food and agricultural policy at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, said: “There is a lot of criticism about how the landscape is changing, the Netherlands is a flat country and we cherish our grasslands and traditional polders [lowlands reclaimed from the sea]. ]”.

The addition of such data centers is likely to continue, especially as more and more servers are needed to handle the rise of artificial intelligence-based services, such as Microsoft’s AI chat search engine. The impact on the land and the overall environment will certainly have to be addressed, with the local population hoping to avoid major future problems before it is too late.

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A mega data center needs to cover at least 10,000 square feet (About 929 square meters). But the Dutch government introduced restrictions in 2022, and Microsoft’s under-construction data center was exempted.

Another issue is nitrogen emissions. The Netherlands produces four times as much nitrogen as any other EU country and is working to cut those emissions in half by 2030. However, Microsoft managed to get a “tolerance decision” (tolerance decision) from the local environmental agency, allowing Microsoft to go ahead with the data center construction in the case of excessive nitrogen emissions.

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