It’s been a busy first half of the year at Kairos Power, but the big story is just starting to heat up! Here’s a look at what you may have missed:
Engineering Test Unit Comes to Life
The Kairos Power team has been hard at work building the Engineering Test Unit (ETU), which represents a major milestone on our iterative path to commercial deployment of the fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR).
The non-nuclear system demonstrates the design and integration of principal KP-FHR technologies, yields construction and manufacturing experience, develops supply chain maturity, and provides experience with large-scale Flibe operations. As we learn by building, the knowledge gained from ETU will inform subsequent plan-design-build-test cycles and be incorporated into the design of the Hermes demonstration reactor and subsequent hardware iterations.
Aligned with Kairos Power’s vertical integration strategy, many critical ETU components were manufactured in-house at KP-Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including the graphite moderator blocks and 30,000 simulated fuel pebbles that were pressed and machined in our Pebble Development Lab.
This first-of-a-kind system is the product of an incredible cross-functional effort by the entire Kairos Power team, and we could not be prouder of the diligence and ingenuity that have gone into it.
What’s next? ETU hot commissioning will begin this summer once construction is complete. The largest Flibe experiment ever conducted, it will allow for integrated testing of systems, structures, and components, and be a major step forward on our mission to enable the world’s transition to clean energy.
But first… Our manufacturing team has made incredible progress scaling up production of specialized components.
Expanding Manufacturing Operations at KP-Southwest
It’s not just graphite that’s being machined on the manufacturing floor at KP-Southwest. Kairos Power’s in-house manufacturing capabilities have grown exponentially over the last two years to support part production for ETU and future hardware demonstrations, including Hermes. By vertically integrating manufacturing, construction, and other core competencies, Kairos Power is reducing supply chain risk and achieving cost certainty to ensure a credible path to success for KP-FHR technology.
Kairos Power’s vertical integration strategy supports our rapid iterative development approach, allowing us to move quickly over successive hardware iterations. With our nimble team, Kairos Power pivoted to internally produce the graphite moderator blocks for ETU. And our ability to respond rapidly to emergent fabrication needs shaved weeks off ETU’s construction timeline.
What’s next? Kairos Power continues to create highly skilled, high-paying manufacturing jobs to support the new capabilities we’re adding at KP-Southwest.
But first… The Kairos Power family is growing in more ways than one! Meet the KP-OMADA Advanced Nuclear Alliance.
Announcing the KP-OMADA Advanced Nuclear Alliance
Kairos Power is thrilled to join @Bruce_Power, @ConstellationEG, @SouthernCompany, and @TVAnews in forming the Kairos Power Operations, Manufacturing & Development Alliance (KP-OMADA) to advance the development of KP-FHR technology.
Read the news: https://t.co/XXszL4qMYP pic.twitter.com/v42Ptralqm
— Kairos Power (@KairosPower) April 20, 2022
In April, Kairos Power joined with Bruce Power, Constellation, Southern Company, and TVA to form the Kairos Power Operations, Manufacturing and Development Alliance (KP-OMADA) to advance the development of our fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology.
“In order for advanced nuclear reactors to play a significant role in the fight against climate change, we are focused on the delivery of a safe and affordable technology through iterative hardware demonstrations,” said Mike Laufer, Kairos Power CEO and co-founder. “By aligning with an incredible team of nuclear owners and operators, we will gain confidence through these iterations that our advanced reactor technology will meet the evolving operational needs of our customers in the years to come.”
What’s next? The alliance will advise on the development of KP-FHR technology, licensing, manufacturing, construction, and commercialization, and pool knowledge regarding the siting and development of future Kairos Power hardware demonstrations, including:
- User Facility (U-Facility) – a full-scale, non-nuclear demonstration reactor and operations/maintenance training facility
- KP-X – a first-of-its-kind, 140 MWe/unit commercial reactor operating at grid scale
And finally… Kairos Power has been on the ground in Tennessee as we make plans to build the Hermes demonstration reactor in Oak Ridge.
Hermes Neighbors Welcome Kairos Power
Many thanks to our friends & neighbors in Oak Ridge who came out to the K-25 History Center yesterday to meet the Kairos Power team! It was a pleasure sharing our vision with you and honoring the legacy of this historic site where the Hermes demonstration reactor will be built. pic.twitter.com/c5DideuVYH
— Kairos Power (@KairosPower) May 4, 2022
Last month, the Kairos Power team greeted neighbors, friends, local businesses, and community leaders at the K-25 History Center overlooking the future site of the Hermes demonstration reactor. We enjoyed the opportunity to meet our neighbors in person, answer their questions, and understand the community’s needs while sharing our plans for the Hermes demonstration reactor.
Speakers, including Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Mayor Warren Gooch, offered words of encouragement as they welcomed Kairos Power to this pioneering community. Pastor Derrick Hammond reflected on the ‘Secret City’s’ origins, noting that “Oak Ridge came together and did things that had never been done before” in decades past. Now, as the region embarks on a new chapter as a hub for advanced nuclear technology, we look forward to working with partners in Oak Ridge to do new things that have never been done before, making a difference in the fight against climate change.
What’s next? The Hermes construction permit application is currently undergoing review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and our team remains in constant communication with NRC staff. Pending approval of the construction permit, we plan to break ground in late 2023.
Until next time…
Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more updates.
Reading List
- Kairos Power Receives the BloombergNEF Pioneer Award for Climate Tech Innovation – BloombergNEF
- Tech Talk: How Kairos Power is Reinventing Nuclear Energy–The Breakthrough Institute
- With Hermes, Kairos Power Offers a New, Timely Path for Advanced Reactors – NEI
- Open House: Learn About the Hermes Demonstration Reactor – Kairos Power
