Retired USS Nimitz nuclear reactors could power AI data centers, offering a cheaper, high-output energy solution.
The nuclear reactors that once powered the USS Nimitz, the United States Navy’s oldest active nuclear-powered aircraft carrier , could help fuel the next generation of artificial intelligence data centers, according to a proposal now under consideration by U.
S. energy officials.The idea surfaced as the Nimitz completed its final nine-month deployment earlier this year and arrived at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, marking the beginning of a long and complex decommissioning process.The carrier’s two nuclear reactors, which gave it near-unlimited endurance at sea, now pose one of the Navy’s biggest recycling challenges.As previously reported by Forbes, dismantling and recycling a nuclear-powered supercarrier is neither quick nor cheap. The process is expected to unfold across five phases, each potentially taking up to a decade, with total costs exceeding $1 billion.Planning is already underway. This month, Huntington Ingalls Industries received a $33.5 million contract modification to begin preparations for inactivation and defueling of CVN-68, including procuring long-lead materials for the process.Warship power reimaginedWhile the Nimitz herself is unlikely to power civilian projects, her retirement has reignited interest in whether nuclear reactors from decommissioned U.S. Navy vessels could be repurposed.According to Bloomberg, Texas-based HGP Intelligent Energy LLC has proposed using retired naval nuclear reactors to supply electricity for artificial intelligence data centers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.The company estimates that two retired reactors could deliver between 450 and 520 megawatts of power, enough to support energy-hungry AI workloads.A complete plant could cost around $2 billion, a fraction of the cost of building a new civilian nuclear power station, Bloomberg reported.The proposal also leverages existing supply chains and decades of operational experience.The U.S. Navy has long relied on Westinghouse A4W reactors for Nimitz-class carriers and General Electric S8G reactors for its Los Angeles-class nuclear submarines.Supporters argue that this history could simplify licensing and staffing, especially as nuclear-trained veterans transition to civilian roles.However, as Marine Insight reported, the reactors aboard the Nimitz are already scheduled for removal as part of standard inactivation procedures, which will be carried out at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia before the carrier moves to Naval Station Norfolk for decommissioning.Nuclear risks and rewardsOne of the biggest obstacles to repurposing naval reactors lies in the fuel itself. U.S. Navy reactors use weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium, raising serious proliferation concerns.“If extracted from reactor fuel rods, the 93% uranium-235 fuel could be used to make nuclear weapons, and it is considered a proliferation risk. The reactor technology itself is among the defense establishment’s most closely-guarded secrets,” Maritime Executive explained.Because of these risks, retired reactor compartments are currently shipped to the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Washington state, where hundreds are stored in Trench 94.HGP has proposed locating its first plant at Oak Ridge, citing the region’s deep nuclear expertise and proximity to national security infrastructure.As AI data centers demand unprecedented amounts of reliable power, nuclear energy is increasingly seen as one of the few viable long-term solutions.Repurposing reactors from retired warships could reduce waste, lower costs, and ease the Navy’s decommissioning burden—if regulatory and security hurdles can be overcome.
Aircraft Carrier Energy Infrastructure Military Technology Nuclear Power Nuclear Reactors US Navy USS Nimitz
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