Kairos Power

Graphite is a crucial material used in Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor. It forms several structural components that reflect neutrons, guide coolant flow, and ensure key safety systems operate reliably. Because nuclear-grade graphite is manufactured differently by each supplier, reactor developers must carefully test and qualify the specific graphite grades they plan to use. To support this effort, Kairos Power recently completed an extensive materials testing program using ET-10 graphite in collaboration with global manufacturer, Ibiden. Engineers machined nearly 3,000 graphite specimens to extremely tight tolerances—many within hundredths of a millimeter—and tested them to destruction to examine their performance. The program evaluated a wide range of physical and mechanical properties, including tensile strength (seen here), to ensure the graphite used in Hermes performs as expected.

"Tennessee is the best hub that we have as a center for nuclear construction and operations....there is a workforce there and a construction base that really understands nuclear technology, is supportive of it, and we've been able to leverage that to build our workforce." - Kairos Power CEO and Co-Founder Mike Laufer. 🎙️Have a listen to Mike's conversation with Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes on our Hermes 2 groundbreaking. https://lnkd.in/eeAnMtyZ

Our Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is where our reactor projects begin. The hardware and modular reactor systems made here will be shipped and assembled on-site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to deliver our reactors with greater cost certainty. 🎯

NUCLEAR 101: The Kairos Power fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor combines proven molten salt and pebble bed reactor technologies to efficiently deliver heat at more than 1,200°F. Here’s how it works: ➡️Fission generates heat inside the TRISO pebble fuel. ➡️Flibe molten salt coolant efficiently transfers that heat to an intermediate salt loop ➡️The salt loop heats water to steam ➡️The steam spins a turbine to produce clean electricity.

Two groundbreakings on advanced reactors in less than a week. Thanks to Jennifer Hiller for covering our Hermes 2 construction kick off and site warming event and congrats to TerraPower for breaking ground in Wyoming. It's an exciting time for the advanced nuclear community.

It’s hard to believe it’s been one week since our groundbreaking on Hermes 2. Hermes 2 will be our first power-producing reactor and the first deployment under our agreement with Google, supplying clean electricity to the Tennessee Valley Authority grid to help decarbonize data centers in Tennessee and Alabama.   The lessons we gain from this project will further advance our technology, licensing, supply chain, and construction methods to deliver our commercial fleet with greater cost certainty.  

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” - Dr. Seuss Every day is #EarthDay at Kairos Power thanks to our talented and committed team members who are laser-focused on making a positive impact on people and the environment through the development of clean, reliable, advanced reactor technology. 🌎

Kairos Power recently received the 28th National Award for Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The award is the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History’s most prestigious honor and recognizes achievements that advance learning and discovery across the nuclear fields. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History for this recognition,” said Edward Blandford, chief technology officer and co-founder for Kairos Power. "This institution plays a vital role in preserving the legacy of nuclear science while igniting curiosity and innovation in the next generation, who will define its future. To be recognized here, among so many who value both history and progress, is deeply meaningful. The need for clean, reliable power has never been greater, and Kairos Power is ready to meet this moment by working hard every day to deliver advanced reactors on schedule and with greater cost certainty. A lot of that work happens in Albuquerque at our Manufacturing Development Campus and throughout the region thanks to Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the University of New Mexico. The systems and components we build and test in the state will directly support our reactor deployments in other states.

We just broke ground on our second advanced reactor in East Tennessee. Hermes 2 will be our first power-producing reactor and the first deployment under our landmark deal with Google. The project will supply up to 50 megawatts to the Tennessee Valley Authority grid and establishes a long-term commitment to the Oak Ridge community. "For nuclear projects to be successful, we need more than just the right technology. We need to understand every aspect of project delivery. Hermes 2 is where that all comes together," said Mike Laufer, Kairos Power CEO and co-founder. "Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is our hub for nuclear construction and operations. We're training a real workforce to do nuclear construction, learning from the Hermes 1 experience, and translating that knowledge to the Hermes 2 project next door." We'd like to thank the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Tennessee Valley Authority, Google, U.S. Department of Energy - Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, City Of Oak Ridge, and the Roane County for their support. Today's speakers included: Mike Laufer - Kaiors Power CEO & Co-founder Edward Blandford - Kairos Power CTO & Co-founder Governor Bill Lee Representative Chuck Fleischmann Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly Wade Creswell, Roane County Executive Erik Olds, Site Manager, DOE Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Sean Gleason, City Council Member, City of Oak Ridge Joe Hoagland, Associate Lab Director, Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate, ORNL Matthew Rasmussen, Chief Nuclear Officer, TVA Katie Ottenweller, Energy Market Development Lead, Google