Nvidia and PreussenElektra evaluate nuclear plants for AI data centers
October 28, 2026 · 2 min read
Nvidia and the German energy company PreussenElektra GmbH have established a preliminary partnership to assess whether decommissioned nuclear plants in Germany can be converted into high-performance data centers intended for artificial intelligence (AI).
The project is based on a logic of repurposing infrastructure: nuclear plants already have connections to high-voltage power grids, access to cooling water, industrial land, and operational licenses, which typically require years of planning and significant investments to obtain from scratch. The initiative aims to reduce costs and development time amidst the global race for AI infrastructure.
The evaluation will examine existing connections to the power grid, the availability of land, and industrial infrastructure at the former nuclear sites to determine if they meet the operational requirements of so-called “AI factories.” The plan does not include the use of nuclear energy to power the future data centers.
Germany permanently shut down its last operating nuclear plants in April 2023, following the Fukushima disaster, and is dismantling around 30 facilities in the country. PreussenElektra is responsible for the decommissioning and dismantling of eight of these plants, which are expected to be the sites evaluated under the partnership.
Guido Knott, chairman of the board of PreussenElektra, states that “our former plant sites have valuable industrial infrastructure and offer opportunities for future-oriented new uses. Together with Nvidia, we aim to conduct a thorough assessment of whether and how these conditions can be utilized for AI factories. This combines the responsible reuse of our sites with new economic opportunities for the regions.”
Markus Hacker, senior regional director at Nvidia, notes that “AI factories require access to energy, land, and high-capacity infrastructure, and former industrial sites can provide a solid foundation for this next generation of computing. Together with PreussenElektra, we will assess how their sites can meet the technical and operational requirements of AI factories and contribute to Germany's high-performance AI infrastructure.”
Both companies have clarified that the initiative is strictly in the experimental phase of feasibility. No investment amount, approved development plan, or definitive construction contract has been finalized at this time.