On Monday, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) released a report indicating a positive outlook for the technology and utility sectors associated with low-carbon and nuclear power solutions.
The analysis points to a growing demand for data center power, which is expected to increase by 165% by 2030 compared to 2023 levels. This surge is partly attributed to the growing influence of artificial intelligence, which is believed to push the demand even higher.
The report does not recognize a Green Premium for intermittent power sources in the United States but identifies a Green Reliability Premium for continuous low-carbon power solutions compared to natural gas. This premium is expected to be more significant in the U.S. due to lower natural gas costs and the potential impact of carbon pricing in other markets.
According to Goldman Sachs, hyperscalers, or large tech companies, are likely to continue pursuing low-carbon power solutions, influenced by industry discussions, recent contracts, and the analysis of Green Reliability Premiums.
The analysis suggests that the capital requirements for these Green Reliability Premiums are modest about the EBITDA of key hyperscalers, impacting corporate returns by only 1 percentage point against a 32% average baseline estimate.
The firm also highlights the onset of a nuclear renaissance in the U.S. and globally, with increased investment in small modular reactors (SMRs) and larger-scale nuclear projects expected to escalate in the next five years, significantly contributing to the power supply in the 2030s.
Goldman Sachs anticipates that Big Tech will maintain its comprehensive commitment to deploying low-carbon technology, which will support the upside for Green Capital Expenditures (Capex). The firm expects less variability in the levelized cost of energy among low-carbon power solutions and continued support for carbon capture and removal technologies.
Lastly, the report forecasts a rise in natural gas-fired power usage by data centers, with thermal sources expected to account for 60% of the power demand. Policy and technology advancements are projected to influence the balance between combined cycle and peaker unit deployment.
Goldman Sachs suggests that stocks in utilities, battery storage, solar, onshore wind, nuclear, and carbon capture and removal supply chains stand to benefit from these trends.
In other recent news, NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. has successfully raised $41.4 million through a follow-on public offering, selling an additional 317,646 shares at $17.00 per share. The proceeds are anticipated to drive innovation and growth within the company. Furthermore, the company completed a $36 million public offering, with the funds earmarked for research and development, specifically for its ZEUS™ and ODIN™ microreactors.
In addition, H.C. Wainwright has initiated coverage on NANO Nuclear with a Buy rating, highlighting the company's development of compact microreactors. The company also secured an additional $5.4 million through the exercise of an over-allotment option, bringing the total gross proceeds from the public offering to approximately $41.4 million.
In terms of leadership changes, NANO Nuclear appointed Jiang (Jay) Yu as President and John G. Vonglis, former CFO of the U.S. Department of Energy, as Chairman of its Executive Advisory Board for Strategic Initiatives.
Moreover, NANO Nuclear has formed a new subsidiary, NANO Nuclear Space Inc., to explore potential uses of micronuclear reactors in cis-lunar space.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement Goldman Sachs' bullish outlook on low-carbon and nuclear power solutions, let's take a closer look at NNE, a company operating in this space. According to InvestingPro data, NNE has a market capitalization of $621.04 million USD, indicating it's a relatively small player in the sector.
The company's stock has shown remarkable performance recently, with a 271.1% price total return over the past year and a 100.21% return in the last three months. This aligns with the growing interest in green energy solutions highlighted in the Goldman Sachs report.
However, it's important to note that NNE is currently not profitable, with a negative operating income of $8.76 million USD in the last twelve months as of Q3 2024. This is reflected in its negative P/E ratio of -71.59.
InvestingPro Tips reveal that NNE holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which could provide financial flexibility as the company navigates the evolving energy landscape. Additionally, the stock generally trades with high price volatility, which investors should consider when evaluating potential investments in this sector.
For those interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers 12 additional tips for NNE, providing a more comprehensive view of the company's financial health and market position.
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