FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION APPROVES CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR HERMES 2 DEMONSTRATION PLANT
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – November 20, 2024 – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has voted to issue construction permits to Kairos Power for the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant to be built at the Heritage Center Industrial Park in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
As part of Kairos Power’s iterative development approach, Hermes 2 will build on learnings from the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, which became the first U.S. Gen IV reactor to receive an NRC construction permit in December 2023. Following the Commission’s vote, Hermes 2 is now the first electricity-producing Gen IV plant to be approved for construction in the United States.
The Hermes series represents a major step on Kairos Power’s iterative path to commercializing fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology to support the clean energy transition. Hermes 2 will demonstrate complete plant architecture at a reduced scale and supply clean electricity to the grid, further advancing technology, licensing, supply chain, and construction certainty for Kairos Power’s commercial deployments.
The Commission’s approval of the Hermes 2 construction permits follows the NRC staff’s thorough review of Kairos Power’s application, which was completed on an accelerated schedule of just over one year. The rapid review and approval timeline was made possible by Kairos Power’s extensive pre-application engagement with the NRC dating back to 2018, along with numerous process improvements piloted by the first Hermes CPA and the NRC’s new simplified mandatory hearing process. Additional efficiencies were created by the similarities and co-location of the two Hermes iterations, which allowed the Hermes 2 application to leverage work already done for Hermes.
“The Commission’s approval of the Hermes 2 construction permits marks an important step toward delivering clean electricity from advanced reactors to support decarbonization,” said Mike Laufer, CEO and co-founder. “We are proud to lead the industry in advanced reactor licensing and look forward to continued collaboration with the NRC as we chart a path forward with future applications.”
“The NRC’s mission to protect people and the environment aligns closely with Kairos Power’s,” said Peter Hastings, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs & Quality. “The licensing basis established with both the Hermes and Hermes 2 construction permits will carry forward to future license applications, ensuring the safety of Kairos Power’s deployments while supporting continued innovation and efficiency in the review process.”
“We appreciate the NRC staff’s dedication and their eagerness to innovate in licensing reviews,” said Darrell Gardner, Senior Licensing Director. “It’s been a positive experience working with them on Kairos Power’s applications, which have served as a testing ground for more efficient processes that will benefit the entire industry. Kudos to the NRC and to the entire Kairos Power team for another job well done.”
The Hermes 2 plant will be built on land that Kairos Power purchased in 2021 adjacent to the Hermes reactor, which is currently under construction. Following the two-step 10 CFR Part 50 licensing process, Kairos Power will apply for an operating license for Hermes 2, which must be approved by the NRC before the plant can start up.
Read the NRC’s press release for more on this licensing milestone.
About Kairos Power
Kairos Power is a mission-driven nuclear technology, engineering, and manufacturing company singularly focused on commercializing the fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) – a clean energy solution that can be deployed with robust safety at an affordable cost to enable deep decarbonization. Founded in 2016, the company is unique in applying a rapid iterative development approach and vertical integration strategy to bring advanced reactor technology to market. In 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit for Kairos Power’s Hermes demonstration reactor – the first non-water-cooled reactor to be approved for construction in the U.S. in more than 50 years. Kairos Power’s mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy with the ultimate goal of dramatically improving people’s quality of life while protecting the environment. Learn more at kairospower.com.
Contact:
Ashley Lewis
Corporate Communications
[email protected]
(510) 775-1685
