Oklo Inc. and Vertiv have signed a collaboration agreement to co-develop advanced power and cooling solutions tailored for hyperscale and colocation data centers in the United States. The initiative will pair Oklo’s Aurora advanced nuclear power plant with Vertiv’s power and thermal management systems to create an integrated, energy-efficient platform for AI and high-performance computing environments.
The first pilot demonstration will take place at the initial Aurora site, where heat from Oklo’s fast fission reactor will be used to drive Vertiv’s cooling infrastructure. The companies aim to deliver end-to-end reference designs that reduce environmental impact while increasing energy resilience. Oklo’s model as both owner and operator of its power plants enables close integration with customer infrastructure, streamlining deployment adjacent to compute demand.
The announcement reflects growing industry interest in advanced nuclear as a viable, low-carbon energy source for data center growth. Vertiv’s CEO Gio Albertazzi emphasized the rising demand from AI workloads, stating that “nuclear energy is increasingly a discussion point” among hyperscalers. The collaboration is expected to generate scalable designs that align power and cooling infrastructure from the ground up.
- Pilot site: Oklo’s first Aurora advanced reactor
- Target sectors: Hyperscale, colocation, and AI-driven data centers
- Technology: Steam and electricity from Oklo’s nuclear plants to power Vertiv’s cooling systems
- Strategic goal: Create end-to-end reference designs that co-optimize thermal and power infrastructure
- Oklo operates as owner-operator, enabling deeper infrastructure integration
“We are developing a plant concept that leverages proven, off-the-shelf components without altering the core design of our plants. Vertiv is an expert in cooling and power innovation for data centers and critical infrastructure, so co-designing these solutions from the outset, we can create greater value and efficiency for data center and infrastructure operators,” said Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo.
🌐 Why it Matters: Data centers are consuming unprecedented levels of energy, particularly with the rise of AI workloads. This collaboration could become a model for decarbonizing power-intensive facilities without sacrificing performance or scalability. Advanced nuclear solutions, integrated with precision thermal design, represent a path to cleaner and more efficient data infrastructure in the U.S.
🔎 Note: Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE: VRT), headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, is a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments. The company was formed in 2016 when Emerson Electric divested its Network Power division, which was acquired by Platinum Equity. The company went public in 2020 through a merger with GS Acquisition Holdings Corp. Vertiv’s leadership is headed by CEO Giordano (Gio) Albertazzi, who previously served as President of Vertiv in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Under his guidance, Vertiv has pursued aggressive expansion to meet rising demands from hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data centers, particularly those driven by AI workloads. Verity has made strategic acquisitions—including E&I Engineering and Geist—to strengthen its power and infrastructure portfolio. It partners with leading data center operators and technology firms.
🔎 Note: Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) is an advanced nuclear energy company based in Santa Clara, California, developing compact fast reactors for commercial use. Its flagship product, the Aurora Powerhouse, is a microreactor designed to produce 1.5 MWe in its initial iterations (with plans for larger 15 MWe models), using recycled high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel to deliver clean, reliable, and scalable electricity and heat. Designed for autonomous operation with passive safety features, the Aurora is intended to operate continuously for up to 10 years without refueling. Founded in 2013 by Jake DeWitte and Caroline Cochran, Oklo is backed by prominent investors including Sam Altman, DCVC, Giant Ventures, Mithril Capital, and Y Combinator. The company went public in May 2024 via a merger with AltC Acquisition Corp., a SPAC also backed by Sam Altman. Oklo made history as the first to have a combined license application for an advanced reactor accepted by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2020. Though the initial application was denied in 2022, a revised application for deployment at Idaho National Laboratory is now under formal review following the successful completion of an NRC pre-application readiness assessment in July 2025, which identified no significant gaps. Additionally, Oklo received a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for its Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility at INL in 2023, selected Kiewit as the lead constructor for its first Aurora deployment in July 2025, and has secured partnerships such as a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Air Force to explore powering military installations.
