Dear Friend,
As global demand surges, there has never been a greater need for the clean, reliable, baseload energy that advanced reactors will provide. However, at Kairos Power, we recognize that, for our technology to achieve widespread adoption, we must deliver it with cost and schedule certainty.
That’s why we embrace an iterative development approach, designing, building, and testing reactor-scale hardware in rapid learning cycles to understand how to build it and what it costs. Through repetition, we mitigate technology, supply chain, licensing, and construction risks, knowing that we can’t anticipate every obstacle, but trusting the process to help us learn and adapt as we go.
This month, we reached a new milestone on our iterative pathway when we poured the first nuclear safety-related concrete for the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Hermes will be the world’s first fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR), combining proven nuclear technologies in a novel way to achieve robust inherent safety at an affordable cost. The demonstration reactor builds on years of learning from our non-nuclear Engineering Test Unit (ETU) series and will inform how we design, build, and scale our technology commercially, providing real cost information to give confidence to our customers.
The progress we make in Oak Ridge will support our partnership with Google to deploy 500 MW of capacity by 2035. Moreover, it will demonstrate the significance of advanced nuclear energy as a strategic national asset, strengthening U.S. energy security, driving economic growth, and addressing the challenge of decarbonization.
We know challenges lie ahead, but the Kairos Power team is energized and more determined than ever to continue our momentum and keep driving forward.
– Mike
Kairos Power Begins Nuclear Safety-Related Construction of the Hermes Demonstration Reactor
Crews funnel concrete into the first drilled pier shaft for the Hermes reactor building foundation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Kairos Power has begun nuclear safety-related construction of the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, placing the first “nuclear concrete” on May 7 at our site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Hermes, a scaled demonstration of Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor technology, is the first advanced reactor to receive a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
“The first safety-related concrete pour for an advanced reactor in the United States is a major milestone and a significant accomplishment for the Kairos Power team and our construction partners,” said Kairos Power CEO and co-founder Mike Laufer.
Safety-related construction activities began with the installation of drilled piers to anchor the reactor building’s foundation to bedrock.
A drill rig removes soil from a pier shaft; a quality control inspector checks a rebar cage.
To prepare for the Hermes foundation work, the construction team, led by Barnard Construction Company, completed a full-scale test pier to demonstrate the process from start to finish last fall. They then proceeded to drill 70 piers for the non-nuclear Engineering Test Unit (ETU 3.0) facility, located adjacent to Hermes, over a period of four months.
The ETU 3.0 foundation served as a proving ground to test the drilled-pier installation process and refine quality control procedures for Hermes; NRC Commissioner Annie Caputo visited Oak Ridge in February to observe ETU 3.0 construction progress.
“The Hermes project team continues to lead the industry as we forge a new path in advanced reactor construction,” said Kairos Power Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Edward Blandford. “Working with our partners and in close communication with the NRC, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety to ensure the success of this project.”
WATCH: “Big Tech’s Big Bet on Nuclear Power” on CBS Sunday Morning
TV viewers got a peek at our construction progress earlier this year when Kairos Power was featured in a CBS Sunday Morning segment highlighting our partnership with Google to deploy a 500 MW advanced reactor fleet. Reporter David Pogue visited the Hermes site with CEO Mike Laufer, who explained the rationale behind Kairos Power’s iterative approach. “Yes, [deploying new reactor technology] is really hard … But we’re doing it at a smaller scale to start, and then building on that in the future.”
Kairos Power co-founder and CTO Edward Blandford presents an update to the East Tennessee Economic Council; U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and key leaders gather at the Hermes site to observe nuclear safety-related construction in action.
Of course, none of our progress in Oak Ridge would be possible without the continued support and enthusiasm of the community, along with local, state, and federal leaders. One day after nuclear concrete started flowing, Kairos Power was thrilled to celebrate the milestone with Oak Ridge stakeholders at the ETEC Friday Morning breakfast. And just yesterday, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann visited the Hermes site with DOE Acting Under Secretary for Infrastructure Dr. Michael Goff, Oak Ridge National Lab Director Dr. Stephen Streiffer, and Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch to get an up-close look at construction progress.
Kairos Power is grateful for the opportunity to build on the region’s remarkable nuclear legacy as we develop a clean energy resource that will improve people’s quality of life and support economic growth in East Tennessee and beyond.
Training the Next Generation Nuclear Workforce
Kairos Power and Tickle College of Engineering leaders unveil the Operator Training Simulator Laboratory during a ribbon-cutting event in February.
As construction ramps up in Oak Ridge, we are simultaneously building our training program for the operators who will make Hermes run. This spring, Kairos Power partnered with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to launch an Operator Training Simulator Laboratory—a shared resource for engineering students and Kairos Power employees, providing hands-on experience with advanced reactor operations.
In addition to simulator-based training, Kairos Power is collaborating with the Tickle College of Engineering to develop a new Nuclear Engineering minor program that introduces non-nuclear engineers to foundational nuclear concepts, preparing them to enter the industry.
“The Nuclear Engineering Department is enthusiastic about the partnership with Kairos Power and the new educational and career opportunities this will provide for our students and faculty. It’s a win-win scenario for both our students and future Kairos employees,” said Brian Wirth, Department Head, Tickle College of Engineering Nuclear Engineering Department.
DOE Allocates HALEU for Hermes
To operate Hermes, we’ll need fuel. Now, thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy, we’re one step closer to getting it. In April, the Office of Nuclear Energy announced that it has conditionally agreed to allocate High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) for Hermes’ start-up and operation via the HALEU Availability Program.
Kairos Power will utilize HALEU provided by DOE to produce TRISO fuel pebbles for Hermes at Los Alamos National Laboratory, employing manufacturing processes we are developing with support from the DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
With its triple-coated ceramic shell, TRISO has been dubbed “the most robust nuclear fuel on earth” by the U.S. Department of Energy. Kairos Power embeds poppy-seed-sized TRISO particles into graphite fuel pebbles with a unique annular design optimized for KP-FHR technology.
In a recent blog post, we outlined our iterative approach to establishing fuel fabrication capabilities, starting in our Albuquerque TRISO and Pebble Development Labs. There, the Kairos Power Fuels team is piloting the automated production of TRISO particles and annular fuel pebbles using unenriched, natural uranium. These processes will be replicated at Los Alamos using HALEU to produce fuel for Hermes and provide crucial learning to scale up production for Kairos Power’s commercial fleet.
Building the Next Engineering Test Unit
WATCH: From Raw Materials to Finished Product: Making the ETU 2.0 Reactor Vessel
Fuel isn’t the only thing we’re making in New Mexico. Kairos Power continues to invest in our Albuquerque Manufacturing Development Campus, building out capacity for advanced reactor component manufacturing, including ASME U-stamped pressure vessels.
In January, we completed the fabrication and installation of the reactor vessel for our second Engineering Test Unit (ETU 2.0) – the first to be made in-house at Kairos Power through close collaboration among our Manufacturing, Engineering, Procurement, and Operations teams.
In addition to the reactor vessel, Kairos Power is in the process of fabricating more than 30 modular plant equipment skids that will make up ETU 2.0. The reactor-scale hardware demonstration incorporates lessons learned from its predecessor to further refine KP-FHR systems in an optimized, fully modular design.
ETU 2.0 modular skids under construction in Albuquerque.
Kairos Power’s Pre-Commission, Install, Test, and Assemble (PITA) team is constructing ETU 2.0 equipment skids inside the 30,000-square-foot Modular Systems Facility at our Albuquerque campus. Reactor modules for Hermes will be built in the same facility and then shipped to Oak Ridge for installation, leveraging the efficiencies piloted with ETU 2.0 to help de-risk nuclear construction.
Internalizing the production of major components is part of Kairos Power’s vertical integration strategy, which mitigates supply chain risk and allows us to exert better control over product cost, quality, and schedule.
WATCH: Breaking the Nuclear Cost Barrier: Kairos Power’s Blueprint for Advanced Reactor Delivery | CERAWeek
CEO Mike Laufer and Vice President Jeff Olson explained the importance of in-house manufacturing to making advanced nuclear energy cost-effective this spring at CERAWeek.
“A revelation in the process is the way that iterative development and vertical manufacturing complement each other,” said Laufer. “The engineers designing the parts and the manufacturers who make them – they’re all internal to Kairos. The efficiency that we get from owning all of that has been a key accelerator for us. And opportunities to move faster are what this industry desperately needs.”
Commercial Highlights
KP-OMADA members gather at Kairos Power’s Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque.
Kairos Power is excited to welcome American Electric Power as the newest member of the KP-OMADA Advanced Nuclear Alliance, which assembles leading North American utilities and generating companies to advise on the development of KP-FHR technology. AEP brings decades of experience as a nuclear power plant owner and operator, along with a new perspective as they explore small modular reactors to address increasing energy demand.
We were thrilled to include AEP executives at our recent KP-OMADA member meeting in Albuquerque, along with special guests from Google. Electric utilities will play an important role as Kairos Power and Google partner to deploy 500 MW of capacity under our Master Plant Development Agreement, supplying clean electricity to Google data centers.
In February, we announced that Kairos Power is exploring the potential to site one or more commercial nuclear power plants at the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus. The Texas A&M University System selected Kairos Power’s proposal as the largest commercial project to anchor its “proving ground” for next-generation nuclear energy. The initiative aims to supply clean, firm electricity to data centers and other users, and enhance students’ education by providing unprecedented access to the latest advanced reactor technologies.
A Winning Team
Kairos Power is honored to be named a Bay Area Top Workplace for the fourth year running! This achievement reflects the strength of our team, comprising exceptional individuals with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and industry experience, who are united by our shared mission.
It takes a great deal of talent to accomplish all that Kairos Power is doing. We are actively hiring for numerous positions, including engineers, environmental health and safety professionals, electrical and mechanical technicians, operations specialists, welding experts, and business operations roles. Visit our website to explore current opportunities and discover how you can shape the future of clean energy.
Until Next Time
We’ll be back with more updates later this summer as we continue a busy season of building. Until then, connect with us on LinkedIn and X, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow our progress.
What We’re Reading, Watching, and Listening To:
- Alphabet aims to slash cost of new nuclear with small reactor deployments, CIO says – CNBC News
- Amazon, Google, Meta, and Dow back goal to triple nuclear capacity – World Nuclear News
- These nuclear companies are leading the race to build advanced small modular reactors in the U.S. – CNBC
- US energy secretary touts nuclear power as tech sector’s thirst for electricity grows – AP News
- Inside the Nuclear Capital of America – E&E News by Politico
- VIDEO: Kairos Power starts nuclear construction in Oak Ridge – DOE Energycast
