Kairos Power has selected engineering firm Samsung C&T to assist in constructing its 50-megawatt demonstration nuclear reactor intended for Google. The partnership includes an equity investment and engineering services from Samsung C&T valued at up to $100 million, with $70 million allocated as equity, according to a Kairos spokesperson.
Samsung C&T brings extensive experience, having contributed to the construction of around a dozen nuclear reactors worldwide. Kairos Power is among several nuclear startups responding to increased power demands from AI data centers. Google initially partnered with Kairos in late 2024, commissioning reactors capable of producing approximately 500 megawatts by 2035.
Currently, Kairos is developing two reactors in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Hermes 1, a low-power demonstrator, will refine the commercial design, while Hermes 2 represents the first commercial-scale reactor. The output from these reactors will fulfill the initial 50-megawatt portion of the Google contract.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved Kairos’s plans in late 2024. Hermes 2, a fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor, is expected to be operational by 2030. This reactor design leverages fluoride salts for their high boiling points, enabling low-pressure operation and reducing risks associated with high-pressure failures.
Kairos is also employing TRISO fuel, which encapsulates uranium in multiple protective layers to enhance safety and prevent meltdowns. The company faces a tight but feasible timeline to bring its first plant online within five years. Samsung C&T’s involvement may accelerate future reactor development to meet Google’s broader energy goals.