Samsung C&T invests up to $100 million to help Kairos Power build Google reactor
Kairos Power has secured an equity and in-kind engineering partnership with Samsung C&T worth up to $100 million to construct a 50-MW demonstration reactor for Google by 2030.
Kairos Power announced a collaboration with engineering firm Samsung C&T that includes a $70 million equity investment and additional in-kind engineering services, together valued at up to $100 million. The funding will support the construction of a 50-megawatt demonstration reactor, Hermes 2, slated for operation in 2030 as part of Google’s contract to obtain half-gigawatt nuclear capacity by 2035. Kairos is already building two reactors at Oak Ridge, Tennessee: Hermes 1, a low-power test unit, and Hermes 2, the first commercial-scale design whose output will satisfy the initial portion of Google’s agreement.
The project, approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in November 2024, employs a fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor and TRISO fuel to lower pressure risks and prevent meltdowns. Samsung C&T, which has contributed to roughly a dozen reactors globally, will leverage its expertise to help meet the accelerated schedule. The partnership reflects a broader trend of nuclear startups courting AI data-center power demand.
Why it matters
The deal advances commercial nuclear technology and supports growing AI data-center energy needs.
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