Kairos Power

Kairos Power is excited to announce our collaboration with the Texas A&M University System and prospective customers to explore siting opportunities for one or more commercial nuclear power plants at the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus. Texas A&M named Kairos Power as one of four advanced reactor developers selected through a competitive RFP process to build a proving ground for the next generation of nuclear reactors. Kairos Power’s proposal would be the largest commercial project to anchor an expansion of the RELLIS campus that would advance new nuclear technologies to supply clean, firm electricity for data centers and other commercial applications. The site could potentially host one or more plants totaling 450+ MW in Kairos Power’s commercial fleet, helping the company standardize a fully modular plant design that is efficient, affordable, and repeatable to drive toward cost certainty. “The surging demand for clean electricity has brought nuclear energy to the forefront as a vital source of reliable, carbon-free baseload. We are excited about the momentum for new nuclear deployment at Texas A&M-RELLIS and its potential to support U.S. energy security and continued economic growth. We look forward to collaborating with the Texas A&M System to advance Kairos Power’s clean energy mission and play a new role in developing the nation’s future nuclear workforce.” – Mike Laufer, CEO and co-founder “Texas A&M’s pioneering initiative to host the next generation of advanced reactors is a laudable step toward expanding access to clean nuclear energy. We are enthusiastic about the possibility of advancing our technology at Texas A&M-RELLIS, building on the Hermes demonstration reactor series’ progress to deploy early iterations in Kairos Power’s commercial fleet.” – Edward Blandford, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder “Today’s announcement represents a significant partnership between a global leader in nuclear energy research and development and a cutting-edge advanced nuclear technology company that is helping to redefine the future of energy in Texas. Kairos Power and Texas A&M University System will both play a pivotal role in accelerating the development of the reliable, resilient and safe energy Texas will require for our state’s continued breakneck pace of economy growth,” – Reed Clay, President of the Texas Nuclear Alliance Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gbUCMT6d

Kairos Power has completed the fabrication and installation of the first reactor vessel to be produced in-house at our Albuquerque Manufacturing Development Campus. This significant milestone underscores Kairos Power's commitment to our rapid iterative development approach and vertical integration strategies. “Completing the ETU 2.0 vessel was a monumental achievement for the Kairos Power team. We are systematically building the capabilities and know-how to self-produce major reactor components over multiple iterations – an investment that will ultimately lower costs for the commercial fleet.” Mike Laufer, Kairos Power co-founder and CEO “A little over three years ago, we identified the opportunity to vertically integrate vessel manufacturing to achieve Kairos Power’s quality, cost, and schedule goals. It is incredibly gratifying to see so many internal teams work together on this complex project to design, manufacture, and deliver a completed reactor vessel.” Craig Gerardi, Kairos Power Vice President of Manufacturing “The Kairos Power team did a fantastic job collaborating to meet this milestone. Producing our first reactor vessel in-house was a concerted, cross-functional effort that represents what’s possible when talented people come together to achieve a larger mission. We’ve laid the groundwork; now we’re ready to build toward the future.” Edward Blandford, Kairos Power co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gkgASneC

Three years after it was first installed, the Engineering Test Unit 1.0 reactor vessel was hauled away last month, marking the end of Kairos Power’s first non-nuclear, reactor-scale hardware demonstration.  Removing the reactor vessel was the final step in the deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) of ETU 1.0. This achievement demonstrates Kairos Power’s ability to effectively manage the entire lifecycle of a large-scale molten salt system, from design and construction to testing, operation, and, ultimately, the responsible disposal of all waste streams.  ETU 1.0 provided invaluable data throughout its operational life, and the D&D process was no less illuminating. As the demonstration unit was disassembled, the Engineering Operations team performed forensic analysis on reactor subcomponents, gaining new insights into system performance and the cumulative effects of 2,000+ hours of pumped salt operations. The D&D process also provided crucial experience in safely managing a Beryllium worksite and demonstrating the ability to clean and release the space with zero exposures to personnel. We are carrying these lessons forward to the next iterations – ETU 2.0, ETU 3.0, and the Hermes demonstration reactor – building on Kairos Power’s strong safety record and our commitment to protecting the health and safety of people and the environment. With the ETU 1.0 vessel out of the way, the enclosure won’t stay empty for long. Our team will begin installing ETU 2.0 components in the coming weeks, starting with a new reactor vessel designed and fabricated in-house at Kairos Power’s Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque. Stay tuned for more updates as the next iteration takes shape.

The Kairos Power Operations, Manufacturing, and Development Alliance (KP-OMADA) brings together leading North American utilities and generating companies to advise on the development of Kairos Power’s advanced reactor technology, including licensing, manufacturing, construction, and operations. Every year, KP-OMADA members visit Kairos Power’s Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for an up-close look at the testing and manufacturing operations, lessons learned, and progress towards commercialization. At our recent annual meeting, Kairos Power welcomed KP-OMADA's newest member, American Electric Power, which is exploring small modular reactors to address increasing energy demand. AEP delivers electricity to approximately 5.5 million customers in 11 states and has decades of experience as a nuclear power plant owner/operator.  “Through KP-OMADA engagements with industry leaders like American Electric Power, we gain valuable utility leadership feedback from both a customer and operator perspective,” said Jeffrey Olson, Kairos Power Vice President of Business Development & Finance. “AEP brings a demonstrated commitment to collaborate on real-world challenges, along with a wealth of experience to complement Kairos Power’s iterative development approach. We are grateful to have them onboard.” “Having the opportunity to see the development of SMR technology up close is one of the many reasons AEP is excited to join this group of industry leaders,” said Shane Lies, AEP Executive Vice President of Projects and Services. “Collaboration is at the core of the electric power industry. Whether it’s helping another company restore power after a storm, or sharing ideas about emerging generation technology, we understand the value of exchanging ideas and learning from each other.”  American Electric Power joins an esteemed group of fellow KP-OMADA member corporations, including Bruce Power, Constellation, Dominion Energy, Entergy, Southern Company, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.  At this year’s meeting, we had the privilege of including Google as a special guest, who brought an important customer perspective to the conversation with KP-OMADA utilities. Kairos Power is working with Google to deploy 500 MW of capacity for the company’s data centers in relevant service territories. We are thrilled to have KP-OMADA's ongoing support in deploying advanced nuclear technology to enable the clean energy transition. We look forward to continued growth and progress in 2025! 

The future of clean energy is one step closer, with excavation now complete for the Hermes Demonstration Reactor and the Engineering Test Unit 3.0 facilities at Kairos Power’s site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Over a four-month period, we removed 52,900 cubic yards of soil and uncovered over a hundred remnant concrete footers and electrical duct banks from the uranium enrichment facility that previously occupied our legacy site. With support from LATA, Barnard, and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy - Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, we assessed these remnants and executed a plan to safely and responsibly remove them so we could continue construction. This significant accomplishment is the product of a tremendous collaborative effort by our mission-driven team and partners.    Watch our video to see Hermes and ETU 3.0 excavation unfold by the numbers, and stay tuned for more highlights as construction moves ahead. 

Last week, our teams in Alameda, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Charlotte, NC; Oak Ridge, TN; and Rexford, NY, came together to celebrate Kairos Power’s 8th anniversary. It was an exciting opportunity to reflect on the company’s growth since 2016 as we approach 500 team members, with over 100 new hires this year alone! The event theme, “The 8 Wonders of Kairos Power,” inspired leaders to reflect on eight key areas where we made significant progress in our mission to enable the world’s transition to clean energy. ⚛️ Chief Nuclear Officer/co-founder Per Peterson started things off with a look back at the origins of KP-FHR technology. 🔧 CTO/co-founder Edward Blandford highlighted current progress on the Engineering Test Unit series, standing up in-house manufacturing, fuel development, salt production, and the construction of the Hermes demonstration reactor. 📄 VP of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Peter Hastings highlighted recent NRC licensing accomplishments, including the Hermes 2 demonstration plant construction permits. ⚡️ VP of Business Development and Finance Jeffrey Olson remarked on the year’s commercial progress, expanding the KP-OMADA advanced nuclear alliance and signing a world-first agreement with Google to deploy 500 MW of clean electricity generation. 👷 Last but not least, CEO/co-founder Mike Laufer recognized the incredible contributions of the Kairos Power team. “Few things have we gotten more right than the team we’ve built here and the capabilities we’ve established and brought in,” said Laufer. The program concluded with the presentation of the annual Kairos Power Culture Ambassador Award, which recognizes team members who exemplify the culture we strive to foster at our company – mission-centered, responsible, pioneering, people-centered, collaborative, action-oriented, direct, and honest. This year, for the first time, we had two honorees! The first recipient was Senior Technologist Anthony Milanes, whose work has been instrumental in delivering the ETU 2.0 reactor vessel, soon to be installed at KP Southwest. The second recipient was Facilities Coordinator Matt Miley, whose positive attitude and action-oriented approach demonstrate his commitment to the company's success. Congratulations to our 2024 Culture Ambassadors and every member of the Kairos Power team for another incredible year!

Kairos Power is working iteratively to develop the fuel supply chain for our commercial reactors – and we’re moving fast. Our team is optimizing processes and equipment to produce ceramic-coated TRISO particles and annular graphite fuel pebbles for our Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) in two developmental facilities. These processes will be replicated at Los Alamos National Laboratory to produce fuel for the Hermes demonstration reactor and help us scale up production for the commercial fleet. By vertically integrating fuel production, Kairos Power aims to achieve better control over cost, quality, and schedule in sync with our iterative technology development approach. Read more about Kairos Power’s fuel strategy on our blog: https://lnkd.in/gtNwXqHv 

It’s official! We’ve given Kairos Power permits to start building two additional test reactors (and a shared power production system) at the company’s site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Andrea Veil, head of our Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, did the official signing with Peter Hastings, vice president of regulatory affairs at Kairos. We only needed 18 months to finish our review. We applied the technical decisions we’d already reached for the first Kairos test reactor, approved late last year. We’re waiting for the company to apply for an operating license for that first facility, and we’ll continue monitoring construction activities at the site. #AdvancedReactorReady

"Since Kairos Power’s founding in 2016, our singular focus on delivering a safe, affordable, and reliable clean energy solution has been constant. But, in that time, the global energy outlook has shifted dramatically. Following two decades of steady U.S. electricity demand, projections are now surging upward, increasing the challenge of decarbonization. However, the Kairos Power team remains steadfast in our mission." --CEO and co-founder Mike Laufer Read our Fall newsletter to hear more from Mike and get the latest on Hermes construction progress, our partnership with Google, new manufacturing infrastructure, the ETU series, and the latest licensing milestone on our iterative path to commercializing advanced reactor technology. https://lnkd.in/gRHXgqA9

BREAKING: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has voted to issue construction permits to Kairos Power for the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant to be built at our site in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Hermes 2 will build on learnings from the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, which became the first U.S. Gen IV reactor to receive an NRC construction permit in December 2023. Following the Commission’s vote, Hermes 2 is now the first electricity-producing Gen IV plant to be approved for construction in the United States. “The Commission’s approval of the Hermes 2 construction permits marks an important step toward delivering clean electricity from advanced reactors to support decarbonization,” said Mike Laufer, CEO and co-founder. “We are proud to lead the industry in advanced reactor licensing and look forward to continued collaboration with the NRC as we chart a path forward with future applications.” “The NRC’s mission to protect people and the environment aligns closely with Kairos Power’s,” said Peter Hastings, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs & Quality. “The licensing basis established with both the Hermes and Hermes 2 construction permits will carry forward to future license applications, ensuring the safety of Kairos Power’s deployments while supporting continued innovation and efficiency in the review process.” “We appreciate the NRC staff’s dedication and their eagerness to innovate in licensing reviews,” said Darrell Gardner, Senior Licensing Director. “It’s been a positive experience working with them on Kairos Power’s applications, which have served as a testing ground for more efficient processes that will benefit the entire industry. Kudos to the NRC and the entire Kairos Power team for another job well done.” Read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gaHih7XQ