Kairos Power

AActiveFounded 2016🇺🇸Alameda, California

CEO

Mike Laufer

Overview

Kairos Power is commercializing its fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR), which combines TRISO pebble fuel with FLiBe coolant in a compact, low-pressure design. The company is using an iterative, vertically integrated development model centered on Hermes 1, a 35 MWth demonstration reactor under construction in Oak Ridge, and Hermes 2, an electricity-producing demonstration plant for the TVA grid. Those projects are intended to de-risk a commercial fleet, including Google-backed deployments totaling up to 500 MWe by 2035.

Main Products

Hermes

In Development

35 MWth low-power demonstration reactor validating Kairos Power's KP-FHR design, construction methods, fuel program, and operating approach in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Construction permit granted in December 2023; nuclear safety-related construction began in May 2025, with operation targeted for 2027.

Thermal Output35 MWth

Reactor TypeFluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR)

CoolantFLiBe (lithium fluoride-beryllium fluoride)

FuelHALEU TRISO pebble fuel

LocationOak Ridge, Tennessee

Target Operation2027

Hermes 2

In Development

Commercial-scale demonstration plant that extends the Hermes learning loop into electricity production for the TVA grid and Google-backed demand.

NRC construction permits were issued in November 2024; Kairos has re-envisioned Hermes 2 as a single-reactor, up-to-50 MWe plant scheduled to begin operations in 2030.

Electrical OutputUp to 50 MWe

Plant RoleCommercial-scale Gen IV demonstration plant

LocationOak Ridge, Tennessee

Grid OfftakerTVA / Google

Target Operation2030

KP-FHR (Commercial)

In Development

Kairos Power's modular commercial reactor platform for grid, data center, and industrial users, designed around paired 75 MWe units that scale into larger multi-unit plants.

Commercial fleet architecture is now anchored by Kairos Power's Google agreement, with first deployment targeted for 2030 and additional projects through 2035.

Power Output150 MWe [2 x 75 MWe]

Deployment ConfigurationDual unit

CoolantFLiBe (lithium fluoride-beryllium fluoride)

FuelTRISO pebble fuel

Target DeploymentFirst plant by 2030; fleet expansion through 2035

Scalable Plant Range150-900+ MWe

What's Next

Produce HALEU TRISO fuel for Hermes 1

Using DOE-allocated HALEU and Los Alamos National Laboratory's LEFFF capability to manufacture the first fuel pebbles needed for Hermes 1 startup and operation.

2026

Bring Hermes 1 online

Completing construction, fuel loading, and startup of the Hermes 1 low-power demonstration reactor in Oak Ridge to validate Kairos Power's reactor, fuel, and operating model.

2027

Deliver first Google-backed grid power

Advance Hermes 2 into operation as the first TVA-grid deployment under Kairos Power's Google agreement, proving the transition from demonstration to commercial power sales.

2030

Operations & Revenue

StatusPre-revenue

Development stage — Hermes 1 safety-related construction began in May 2025, Hermes 2 has NRC construction permits, and first grid power under the TVA agreement is targeted for 2030. Kairos has no operating reactors yet.

Pipeline & Contracts

DOE Milestone Contract Support

Performance-based ARDP support of up to $303M for the design, construction, and commissioning of Hermes and related risk-reduction work.

Future Power Purchase Agreements

Kairos plans to sell energy, ancillary services, and environmental attributes under PPAs tied to its Google agreement, beginning with Hermes 2 via the TVA grid.

Key Metrics

Employees

500+

Est. Annual Revenue

Pre-revenue

Google-Backed Fleet

Up to 500 MWe by 2035

Hermes 1 Output

35 MWth

Hermes 2 Status

NRC construction permits issued Nov. 21, 2024

Timeline

2026DOE HALEU contract finalized

Finalizes a DOE contract for HALEU to support Hermes 1 startup and operation, clearing a key fuel-supply milestone for the demonstration reactor.

2025Nuclear construction starts

Begins nuclear safety-related construction on Hermes 1 in Oak Ridge, moving beyond site prep into the licensed reactor build phase.

2025TVA PPA for Hermes 2

Kairos, Google, and TVA announce a power purchase agreement under which Hermes 2 will deliver up to 50 MW to the TVA grid as the first deployment under the broader Google order book.

2024Hermes groundbreaking

Starts excavation and groundwork for the Hermes low-power demonstration reactor at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge.

2024Google fleet agreement signed

Signs a master plant development agreement with Google to develop, construct, and operate a U.S. fleet of advanced reactor projects totaling up to 500 MW by 2035.

2024Hermes 2 permits issued

Secures NRC construction permits for the Hermes 2 commercial-scale demonstration plant, making it the first electricity-producing Gen IV reactor project permitted in the U.S.

2023Hermes construction permit

NRC issues construction permit for Hermes demonstration reactor — first new non-LWR permit in 50+ years.

2021Engineering test unit

Completes construction of an engineering test unit to validate salt coolant technology.

2020DOE ARDP award

Receives risk reduction award under DOE's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.

2016Founded

Mike Laufer and Ed Blandford found Kairos Power to commercialize fluoride salt-cooled reactor technology.

Funding

Round	Date	Amount	Investors	Source
Private investment	2016–present	Undisclosed	Private investors
DOE ARDP milestone contract	2020	Up to $303M	U.S. Department of Energy