Kairos Power

We’re gearing up to train the next generation of advanced nuclear operators!?? Kairos Power unveiled a new Operator Training Simulator Laboratory at the Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee during a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday in Knoxville. Located inside the Zeanah Engineering Complex, the facility is part of a program to train operators for the Hermes low-power demonstration reactor in nearby Oak Ridge while providing foundational courses to UT students entering the advanced nuclear industry.? “This is yet another example of how the public and private sectors and our higher educational system are all working together in close collaboration to strengthen the revitalization of America’s domestic nuclear sector and train the next generation of Americans to enter the advanced nuclear industry which will create thousands of fulfilling, well-paying jobs that will grow our local, state, and national economy.” – Energy and Water Appropriations Chairman Chuck?Fleischmann “This partnership is critical in the Tickle College of Engineering to help us provide the best resources and opportunities for students and to educate the workforce needed for the states nuclear industry. Our college’s Nuclear Engineering program ranks fifth in the country among public institutions and this partnership only enhances our standing as a leader in the field.” – Matthew Mench, Dean, Tickle College of Engineering “The Operator Training Simulator Laboratory will be an important tool in realizing Hermes’ objectives as a stepping-stone to the commercial fleet. Kairos Power is proud to partner with the University of Tennessee to build on the region’s distinguished nuclear legacy, strengthening the pipeline for students and operators that will be the future of our nuclear workforce.” –?Mike Laufer, CEO and co-founder, Kairos Power Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gbJGtf83

Last week, Kairos Power was honored to be recognized on the floor of the New Mexico State Senate and House of Representatives during the Legislative session, where members learned about the State’s crucial role in deploying Kairos Power’s advanced reactor technology. Since 2020, Mesa Del Sol has been home to Kairos Power’s Manufacturing Development Campus, which hosts facilities for advanced reactor component manufacturing, fuel fabrication process development, modular reactor construction, and large-scale, non-nuclear testing, with more to come. Kairos Power has created more than 140 high-paying jobs in Albuquerque and plans to continue investing here as we grow our in-house production capabilities for the commercial fleet.? Kairos Power is proud to contribute to New Mexico’s economic growth and help position the state as a clean energy leader. Special thanks to?Rep. Meredith Dixon?and?Sen. Michael Padilla for hosting our team at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. We are grateful to have the State of New Mexico as a partner in fulfilling our mission to enable the world’s transition to clean energy.

Kairos Power is building foundations in Oak Ridge, Tennessee!??? With site excavation complete, the Kairos Power team is digging deep to create drilled pier foundations for the Engineering Test Unit (ETU 3.0) facility and, soon, for the Hermes Demonstration Reactor.?? Hermes will be supported by a sturdy foundation of 51 six-foot diameter piers, drilled 30 feet below ground to reach bedrock, and then 10 feet into bedrock.?? Following Kairos Power’s rapid iterative approach, we started by drilling a demonstration pier to practice construction methods and gain proficiency with contractors Barnard and Berkel.?? The demonstration, affectionately named “Pier 52,” tested our ability to execute each step of the process: drilling through topsoil, excavating to reach bedrock, verifying rock strength, assembling and placing a 42-foot reinforcement cage, and finally, filling the hole with concrete.?? This is not a quick process. Once the drill reaches sound rock, excavation becomes more time-consuming—taking nearly 10 hours to drill 10 feet into the hard rock with heavy-duty, high-power machinery.? Drilling Pier 52 imparted many valuable insights to refine our construction methods and quality control processes and help us understand the time to complete a single pier so that we can proceed with schedule certainty.? After completing Pier 52, the team implemented lessons learned to begin foundation work for ETU 3.0, generating further experience to help us master the process and develop a quality control checklist for Hermes. Since starting work in December, Kairos Power has successfully drilled 34 of the 72 piers for ETU 3.0, with 19 of them filled with rebar and concrete and construction work continuing daily.?? Our iterative approach to commercial construction is laying the groundwork for nuclear construction. As we progress on the ETU 3.0 foundation, we're also gearing up to drill the first pier for Hermes, which will mark the start of nuclear safety-related construction. Stay tuned for more updates as we build the foundation of clean energy.?

From raw materials to finished product! Kairos Power completed the fabrication and installation of our first internally produced reactor vessel at our Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico last month. See how we established new capabilities over multiple iterations to accomplish the milestone, thanks to the passion and expertise of our incredibly hard-working team. Another big?step toward our clean energy mission.?? ? Watch the video ??? ? #cleanenergy #advancednuclear #manufacturing?

Jeffrey Olson of Kairos Power will join our panel, "???? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????: ?? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ????????????????????" where we’ll explore how AI-driven innovations and rising electricity demand are unlocking new opportunities for accelerating the energy transition. ???? According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), ?????????????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????% ???? ????????, driven by the rapid electrification of transport, heating, and industry ??. Meeting this demand sustainably requires innovative solutions like ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????-???????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? to complement renewable sources and provide reliable, clean power 24/7 ???. ??? Get your tickets now & be part of the conversation: link in the comments. A huge shout-out to Daksh Arora, Tyler Wiik and Nithyaharini Suresh for making this panel happen! ?? #MITEnergyConference2025? #KairosPower ?? #AI ?? #CleanEnergy ?? #NuclearInnovation ?? #SmartEnergy ?? #EnergyTransition ???

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.?