CEG’s 1.1 GW agreement with META, VST’s ongoing Comanche Peak negotiations for offtake contracts and NRG’s newly announced 295 MW power purchase agreement (PPA) are just a few examples of a trend gaining serious traction: Gigawatt-scale baseload is in high demand and data centers are willing to pay for it. AI growth is driving an urgent need for around-the-clock power that intermittent renewables cannot deliver. Nuclear is stepping into that gap, offering unmatched reliability, zero emissions and multi-decade operating lives.
Figure 1 shows which operators have new build and repower potential across their nuclear fleets, divided into tiers of progress. Projects in Tier 1 provide the biggest opportunities for quick-turn partnerships, a perfect example being Holtec’s ongoing repower of its Palisades Nuclear Generation Station. Federal tax credit extensions, bonus depreciation and incentives for nuclear energy communities are adding further tailwinds, making new investments and long-term contracts even more attractive. This policy backdrop is also spurring new investment in small modular reactors, with operators like VST, TLN and CEG exploring projects that could add flexible, carbon-free capacity in new locations and on faster timelines.
For plant owners, the pitch is straightforward: data centers will pay a premium for guaranteed megawatts, evidenced by NRG announcing the signing of a 10-year contract at $70-$90 per megawatt hour in its Q2 earnings call last week. For investors, these agreements can revalue projects overnight, and analysts are keeping a close eye on every hint of a new deal. If you are sitting on spare nuclear capacity, the market is sending clear signals – buyers and capital are here and deals are getting done.
Please contact intelligence@enverus.com if you have any issues accessing links or if you would like to learn more about Enverus products and services.
DID YOU KNOW?
One uranium pellet, about the size of a fingertip, contains as much energy as a ton of coal, three barrels of oil or more than 17,000 cubic feet of gas.
Highlights:
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel – U.S. Capacity Meets Global Mandates – This report explores the international offtake potential for U.S.-produced sustainable aviation fuel, focusing on supply-demand imbalances, policy drivers, and operators best positioned to capitalize on global market gaps.
- Webinar – Beautiful Bill Act – What’s Next for Energy? – The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4 brought sweeping changes that included repealing or altering key energy tax credits. Developers and investors must now adapt quickly to a shifting policy and economic landscape. This presentation highlights technologies most affected, analyzes current project-level economics and identifies the developers best positioned for long-term success
- Large Load Battery Optimization – The BESS of Both Worlds – This report focuses on Enverus Intelligence® Research’s proprietary Bilevel Battery Optimization Model, which selects an optimal battery size and operating strategy for a given large load. It focuses on both behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter strategies, maximizing savings and revenue value streams. The model allows flexibility across different load profiles, pricing scenarios, tariff structures and battery parameters.
About Enverus Intelligence® | Research, Inc. (EIR)
Enverus Intelligence® | Research, Inc. (EIR) is a subsidiary of Enverus that publishes energy-sector research focused on the oil, natural gas, power and renewable industries. EIR publishes reports including asset and company valuations, resource assessments, technical evaluations, and macro-economic forecasts and helps make intelligent connections for energy industry participants, service companies, and capital providers worldwide. See additional disclosures here.
