Kairos Power has started construction on a low-power reactor, which is the first non-light water design permitted for construction in the U.S. in more than 50 years and is projected to be operational in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in 2027, the Department of Energy said in late July.
The company’s Hermes reactor is one of several projects being supported through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
Kairos Power recently started excavation and groundwork at the Hermes site through a contract with Barnard Construction Company.
The reactor is being used to inform the development of the company’s commercial reactor that could be deployed next decade.
Hermes will use a TRISO fuel pebble bed design with a molten fluoride salt coolant to demonstrate affordable clean heat production.
The project was cleared for construction back in December by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is expected to create more than 55 high-paying, full time jobs at the former K-33 gaseous diffusion plant site in Oak Ridge.
The U.S. Department of Energy will invest up to $303 million to support the design, construction, and commissioning of Hermes through its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
Kairos Power is also partnering with Los Alamos National Laboratory to produce TRISO pebble fuel for the reactor and has a cooperative development agreement in place with the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide engineering, operations, and licensing support.
Kairos Power recently wrapped up molten salt testing on the company’s first Engineering Test Unit (ETU) at its manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The system is the first of three iterations that are being built to help design, construct and operate Hermes.
Kairos Power is currently building a second ETU in New Mexico and will collaborate with Barnard Construction on a third system that will be built adjacent to the Hermes reactor site.
Learn more about our Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
