Kairos Power made history on May 8 as the first small modular reactor (SMR) developer to pour concrete for a U.S. advanced reactor.
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The first pour at Kairos Power’s Oak Ridge, TN, facility signals the official start of nuclear construction for the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, per a company press release. The Hermes reactor is a scaled, low-power version of the company’s commercial fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR). It is the first advanced, non-light-water reactor to win approval for construction by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which occurred in December 2023. Kairos began engaging with the NRC’s pre-application process in 2023.
“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 of Kairos Power, Mike Laufer, in the press release. “This achievement reflects the value of our iterative development process to meet the necessary nuclear quality standards and provide crucial real cost information that gives confidence to our customers.”
The technology leverages Kairos’s signature TRISO-coated particle pebble fuel and a low-pressure molten salt dubbed ‘Flibe.’ Molten fluoride salts are known for their outstanding chemical stability, high heat resistance, and ability to contain fission products safely. Tri-structural Isotropic fuel (TRISO) is a modern fuel renowned for its safety, durability, and extremely high-temperature tolerance. According to the Office of Nuclear Energy, TRISO is the most robust nuclear fuel on the planet.
Hermes is backed by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. In February 2024, the DOE committed up to $303 million to the Hermes project through a performance-based, fixed-price milestone structure. Construction broke ground last July, but the most recent announcement is the “first installation of nuclear safety-related concrete.”
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Among the private-sector companies collaborating with Kairos Power is the tech giant Google. In October, Google signed a clean energy agreement with Kairos to purchase nuclear energy from its fleet of reactors. The first reactor could become operational by 2030, with more reactors scheduled to come online through 2035.
This news is indicative of broader advancements in the SMR market. The rise of innovative, accident-tolerant fuels and passive safety systems significantly reduces the likelihood of severe accidents like Fukushima. Whereas conventional light-water reactors use traditional uranium oxide fuel, nuclear tech companies like Kairos are spearheading a new generation of alternative, meltdown-resistant fuels.
As existing nuclear technologies continue to evolve and improve, research from SkyQuest estimates that the global nuclear energy market could be valued at over $46 billion by 2032. Private-sector companies like Kairos are at the forefront of the nuclear energy revolution.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.