Kairos Power has partnered with engineering firm Samsung C&T to develop a 50-megawatt demonstration reactor for Google, with a completion target set for 2030. The agreement includes an equity investment from Samsung C&T valued at $70 million and additional in-kind engineering services, bringing the total investment to up to $100 million, according to a statement from Kairos Power on Monday.
Samsung C&T has experience in constructing approximately a dozen nuclear reactors worldwide. This collaboration comes as Kairos Power is part of a growing number of nuclear startups responding to increased energy demands from AI data centers. In fall 2024, Google signed a contract with Kairos Power for the construction of nuclear reactors capable of generating around half a gigawatt of electricity by 2035.
Currently, Kairos Power is developing two reactors in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The first, Hermes 1, is a low-power demonstrator aimed at refining the company's commercial design, while the second, Hermes 2, is intended to be the first commercial-scale reactor. The output from Hermes 1 will contribute to the initial 50 megawatts of the agreement with Google.
In late 2024, Kairos Power received approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to proceed with the reactor constructions. Hermes 2 is expected to begin operations in 2030, aligning with the timeline set in the agreement with Google.
Hermes 2 will utilize a fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor design, which has been proposed for years but has not yet been constructed at a commercial scale. The use of fluoride salts, which have high boiling points, is intended to maintain low pressure levels and reduce the risk of high-pressure blowouts in the event of component failures.
Additionally, Kairos Power is employing a new type of nuclear fuel known as TRISO, which consists of small uranium fuel seeds encapsulated in layers of ceramic and carbon, formed into billiard ball-sized spheres. This design aims to prevent meltdowns.
The startup has a five-year timeline to operationalize its first power plant, which is considered an accelerated but feasible schedule within the nuclear sector. To meet the requirements of its agreement with Google, Kairos will need to expedite the development of subsequent reactors, a process in which Samsung C&T may provide assistance.