Kairos Power
Kairos Power is a U.S. nuclear technology developer pursuing fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors and a vertically integrated approach to advanced nuclear deployment.
Last updated October 7, 2026
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Overview
Kairos Power is a U.S.-based advanced nuclear technology developer whose stated mission is to contribute to a clean energy future. The company describes itself as having grown from a startup into a vertically integrated nuclear development company, combining reactor development with in-house manufacturing and iterative testing. Its headquarters are in Alameda, California, and its national footprint includes a manufacturing and development campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and reactor projects in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The company is commercializing its KP-FHR technology, a fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor. Its development program includes the Hermes reactor series in Oak Ridge. Kairos says Hermes 1 is the first non-water-cooled reactor to receive an NRC construction permit, and describes Hermes 2 as a commercial-scale demonstration plant intended to supply electricity to the grid. The company presents the projects as a means to reduce risks in nuclear construction, supply chains, and future operations ahead of potential commercial deployment. Kairos Power emphasizes in-house production and iterative engineering. Its stated manufacturing activities include reactor components, plant equipment modules, fuel, and molten salt coolant. Its facilities include engineering and testing capabilities, manufacturing, salt production, and laboratories for TRISO fuel and pebbles. The company says its testing program uses operational data to refine its technology and reduce uncertainty. Kairos describes its intended role as providing reliable, affordable, low-carbon baseload power, including as a prospective replacement for natural-gas generation as existing plants reach the end of their operating lives. Its work is focused on U.S. demonstration and deployment. The company also identifies the KP-OMADA advanced nuclear alliance and collaborations with Google, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and U.S. utilities as part of its commercial partnership activity. The supplied materials identify Mike Laufer as chief executive officer and co-founder, and Edward Blandford as chief technology officer.
History
Kairos Power was started by co-founders who saw an opportunity to address climate change by rethinking both nuclear energy and the broader energy system. The company says its name refers to the Greek word “Kairos,” meaning the right or opportune moment. Its stated strategic rationale is that natural-gas power plants built during the early 2000s are expected to reach the end of their lives in the 2030s and 2040s, creating an opportunity for nuclear technology to provide low-carbon replacement baseload power. The company describes its evolution from a startup into a vertically integrated nuclear development organization with multiple facilities. Its approach combines in-house manufacturing, testing, and iterative development. The company says these activities include producing reactor components, plant equipment modules, fuel, and molten salt coolant, and that its testing program draws on operational data to refine the technology and reduce uncertainty. Kairos is developing KP-FHR, its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor technology. Its U.S. demonstration effort includes the Hermes series in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. According to the company, Hermes 1 became the first non-water-cooled reactor to receive an NRC construction permit. The company also describes Hermes 2 as a commercial-scale demonstration plant intended to supply electricity to the grid. It presents the Hermes projects as a way to de-risk reactor construction, supply chains, and future operations before commercial fleet deployment. Kairos has established a national operating footprint anchored by its headquarters in Alameda, California, with manufacturing and development capabilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and reactor construction activity in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The company identifies the KP-OMADA advanced nuclear alliance and collaborations with Google, TVA, and leading U.S. utilities as part of its effort to develop commercial partnerships and models for advanced nuclear deployment. The supplied materials do not give a founding year, ownership details, or dates for the projects and partnership announcements.
Company founded by co-founders
Hermes 1 receives NRC construction permit
Hermes reactor series under construction in Oak Ridge
Hermes 2 planned as a grid-supplying commercial-scale demonstration plant
KP-OMADA advanced nuclear alliance and partnerships
Products and positioning
An advanced nuclear development company seeking to commercialize fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors through iterative testing, in-house manufacturing, and U.S. demonstration projects. It positions its technology as a potential source of reliable, affordable, low-carbon baseload power.
KP-FHR
Kairos Power's fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor technology.
Hermes 1
A non-water-cooled demonstration reactor that the company says received an NRC construction permit.
Hermes 2
A planned commercial-scale demonstration plant intended to supply electricity to the grid.
Brand decisions
- Pursue vertical integration and in-house manufacturingOther
- Use iterative testing to de-risk commercializationOther
- Focus initial demonstration and deployment in the United StatesOther
Recent events
Kairos Power signs deal with Samsung C&T to build 50 MW demonstration reactor for Google[3]
Reported:
Kairos Power announced on Monday that it has picked engineering firm Samsung C&T to help build its 50-megawatt demonstration nuclear reactor for Google, which the startup is aiming to have completed by 2030.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Samsung C&T to make up to $100 million investment in Kairos Power, including $70 million equity[3]
Reported:
As part of the deal, Samsung C&T will make an equity investment in Kairos Power worth $70 million and provide in-kind engineering services, together worth up to $100 million, Kairos Power said Monday.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
CNL and Kairos Power announce SMR research partnership[4]
Reported:
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Kairos Power announced a research collaboration focused on tritium management for Kairos Power's KP-FHR reactor, including identifying engineering designs for tritium recovery and testing methods.
Sources4 sources
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