Kairos Power

NRC staff from our Region II and HQ were recently #OnTheJob at the Kairos Power’s Hermes site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. They were there to discuss our construction oversight for the Hermes Unit 1 demonstration reactor. This visit marked the start of our inspection oversight program for the project, following the issuance of the construction permit in late 2023. These inspections ensure construction activities meet strict safety requirements from the earliest stages through operation. Kairos is building a low-power test reactor to support development of fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor technology. #AdvancedReactorReady

When a 4.1 magnitude earthquake shook Knoxville last weekend, it was a timely reminder of the importance of seismic safety considerations in nuclear reactor design.  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires that all safety-related systems, structures, and components for U.S. reactors must be designed according to the most severe natural phenomena historically reported for the site and surrounding area. That’s why the Hermes demonstration reactor, currently under construction in Oak Ridge, is designed to withstand site-specific, earthquake-induced ground motion.  When things started shaking on Saturday, the two drilled piers that we had placed for the Hermes foundation days before remained sound. The piers go down roughly 40 feet, anchoring the structure to bedrock.  In addition to a sturdy foundation, the Hermes reactor building will be seismically isolated to minimize the force and potential displacement from seismic events. Two weeks ago, the Kairos Power team was in Pavia, Italy, to observe a test of the Visco-Dampers that will be part of Hermes' Seismic Isolation System – a successful collaboration between the Kairos Power Civil Structures and Quality Assurance teams, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), GERB USA, and EUCENTRE.  We are also collaborating with the PEER - Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) to validate seismic models of Hermes' reactor vessel and internals. The KP-PEER team recently completed a quality level shake-table test to generate data that will support the Hermes Operating License Application, ensuring the reactor’s safe operation under all environmental conditions.   So, the next time you feel the ground moving, rest assured. The Hermes reactor is designed to withstand relevant earthquake hazards. 

Can you dig it? Nuclear construction recently kicked off for Kairos Power's first Hermes reactor in Oak Ridge, TN. The low-power reactor was the first non-light water design permitted for construction in the U.S. in more than 50 years. Hermes is being used to inform the development of the company’s commercial reactor that could be deployed next decade. Hermes will use a TRISO fuel with a molten fluoride salt coolant to demonstrate affordable heat production and is one of several projects being supported by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s to help lower the risk of deploying new reactors in the U.S.

The #ETECcommunity gathered this morning for another packed #ETECFriday, featuring Dr. Edward Blandford, CTO and Co-Founder of Kairos Power. Dr. Blandford shared an inspiring look at Kairos Power’s mission to deliver safe, affordable, and innovative nuclear energy—right here in East Tennessee. His presentation highlighted the company’s unique approach to building the future of advanced nuclear, their commitment to iterative development, and the exciting momentum underway at the site in Oak Ridge. Kairos Power’s growing presence in the #OakRidgeCorridor reflects the energy, innovation, and partnerships that make this region a true hub for nuclear advancement. Thank you The Industrial Development BOARD of the City of Oak Ridge Board for sponsoring this month’s #ETECFridayMorningMeetingSeries breakfast! For more on #ETECFridayMornings, visit #ETEConline here: https://lnkd.in/evsNXZdU #ETECVirtualConversations #ETECFridayMeetingSeries #ETECEvents #ETECSocial #ETECresources #ETECmembership #NuclearIsHere #NuclearIndustryHub

FIRST NUCLEAR CONCRETE 🏗 Yesterday, Kairos Power installed the first nuclear safety-related concrete for the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. “The first safety-related concrete pour for a U.S. advanced reactor under an NRC construction permit is a major milestone and a significant accomplishment for the Kairos Power team and our construction partners,” said CEO and co-founder Mike Laufer. Hermes is a scaled demonstration of Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor technology. We’re building Hermes as part of our iterative approach to mitigating technology, licensing, supply chain, and construction risks for the commercial fleet. “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.” Read the full story on our website: https://lnkd.in/gxch2SCA Barnard #NuclearEnergy #NuclearConstruction #AdvancedNuclear #CleanEnergy #NuclearIsHere

How do we make advanced nuclear energy cost-effective and deployable at scale? That’s the question we tackled at CERAWeek 2025, during our session: “Breaking the Nuclear Cost Barrier: Kairos Power’s Blueprint for Advanced Reactor Delivery.” CEO and Co-Founder Mike Laufer and VP of Business Development & Finance Jeffrey Olson shared how Kairos Power is taking a fundamentally different approach to reactor deployment — one centered on: * Rapid, iterative development * Vertical integration of critical components * Modular, small-sized design for faster construction * A path toward cost certainty for our KP-FHR technology This isn’t just about building a better reactor. It’s about transforming HOW nuclear power is developed and bringing firm, clean, always-on power to market in time to meet climate and energy security goals. Missed the session? Watch the recording: https://lnkd.in/gnbqpTaW #CERAWeek #AdvancedNuclear #EnergyInnovation #KairosPower #NuclearEnergy #CleanEnergyDeployment

Kairos Power was pleased to collaborate with Los Alamos National Laboratory on this experiment, generating critical data to ensure the safety and efficiency of future fuel shipments for the Hermes reactor series and our commercial fleet.

Our Commissioner Marzano was #OnTheRoad this month to Kairos Power’s Albuquerque engineering center, which supports the company’s development of advanced reactor technology. Seen here in the center, he’s getting a tour from Kairos Power employees Drew Peebles, second from left, and Craig Mayberry, on the right, and was accompanied by his staffer, Steven Lynch. Kairos has three constructions permits from the NRC to build test reactors in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, using their molten salt technology. Commissioner Marzano noted the significant progress Kairos is making on manufacturing components for their test reactors.

SMRs or small modular reactors are all the buzz. So, what makes an SMR modular? By prefabricating units that can be shipped to a site for installation, Kairos Power aims to achieve construction efficiencies and cost & schedule savings for our future commercial fleet.  Kairos Power is piloting reactor equipment modularization at our Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with the second iteration of our non-nuclear Engineering Test Unit. ETU 2.0 will be our first modular build, comprising 30+ subsystem modules constructed on individual plant equipment skids. Our Pre-Commission, Install, Testing, and Assemble (PITA) team is building the skids inside our 30,000-square-foot Modular Systems Facility. Once completed, they’ll move skids into the nearby ETU enclosure for final assembly and commissioning.  Kairos Power’s experience building ETU 2.0 will inform future hardware iterations, helping us optimize our design and de-risk construction as we progress to the Hermes demonstration reactor. Plant equipment modules for Hermes will be constructed in Albuquerque and shipped to Oak Ridge, Tennessee– a significant step toward realizing the potential of a factory-built SMR to transform conventional nuclear construction.  It’s all part of Kairos Power’s rapid iterative approach to technology development, where we learn by building at every step.    

The Office of Nuclear Energy | U.S. Department of Energy has conditionally agreed to commit High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium via the HALEU Availability Program for the start-up and operation of Kairos Power’s Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, currently under construction in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Kairos Power will use material provided by DOE to produce HALEU TRISO fuel pebbles for Hermes in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory using manufacturing processes developed and optimized in Kairos Power labs. The Hermes reactor and fuel fabrication program will provide crucial learning to enable the success of Kairos Power’s future commercial fleet.  “We are pleased to confirm this path to obtain HALEU from the U.S. Department of Energy and work with DOE staff to move the process forward,” said Edward Blandford, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder. “DOE has been a vital partner on the Hermes project, with its ongoing risk reduction investment through the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and now the allocation of HALEU, which will allow for continued progress toward Kairos Power’s clean energy mission.” Read DOE’s announcement: https://lnkd.in/gk5j-Qks Learn more about Kairos Power’s iterative approach to fuel development: https://lnkd.in/gtNwXqHv