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Data Center World
April 20-23, 2026
Walter E. Washington Convention CenterWashington, D.C.
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Workshop: The Data Center Energy Playbook: Nuclear Solutions for the Digital Economy

Brian Smith  (Director, Nuclear Reactor Development, Idaho National Laboratory)
Mark Gusakov  (CEO; Managing Partner, The Digital Infrastructure Alliance; Conn3ct Data)
Paul Talbot  (Modeling Scientist and Software Architect, INL)
Location: Ballroom C
Date: Monday, April 20
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Pass Type: AFCOM Solution Provider, All Access Conference, Industry Conference - Get your pass now!
Track: Emerging IT & Data Center Technologies
Session Type: Workshop
Vault Recording: TBD
Brian Smith
Mark Gusakov
Paul Talbot

This workshop will explore ongoing research at U.S. national laboratories aimed at enabling the accelerated deployment of advanced nuclear technologies tailored to the unique needs of data centers. Drawing from Idaho National Laboratory’s Power for Data Centers Playbook, we will examine pathways for integrating nuclear energy, from grid-connected solutions to fully islanded systems, and discuss technical, economic, and policy considerations shaping this transition.

Participants will gain insights into:

• Emerging integration models for nuclear-powered data centers.

• Research initiatives addressing reliability, thermal coupling, and energy-water nexus.

• Strategies for bridging the gap between current infrastructure and nuclear adoption.

The session will also facilitate an interactive discussion to ensure research programs remain aligned with industry priorities, fostering collaboration among data center operators, energy planners, and technology developers. Other experts contributing from Idaho National Laboratory include Eric Whiting, Jonathan Tacke, Bikash Poudel, Todd Knighton, and So-Bin Cho.

Join us to help shape the roadmap for powering the next generation of digital infrastructure with advanced nuclear solutions.