Under ConstructionAdvanced Non-LWR
Project website →Hermes 2
📍 Oak Ridge, TN (Anderson County Co.)Developer: Kairos PowerVendor / Tech: Kairos Power
Capacity
50 MW
Expected Operation
TBD
Reactor Type
KP-FHR (Fluoride-salt cooled)
Regulatory Status
Under construction; groundbreaking 2026-04-17; NRC construction permits issued 2024-11
Details
Primary Use
Power generation - data centers
Grid Connection
TVA grid
Fuel Type
HALEU / TRISO
Construction Start
2025
Research detail · verified 2026-10-10
Stage
Under construction
Commercial power
No (test, research, military or demonstration)
NRC docket
50-611; 50-612
Stated target operation
2030 (Kairos, as reported by ANS 2026-04-21: expects Hermes 2 operations by 2030)
Key dates
2023-07 CP application; 2023-09-11 docketed; 2024-11 NRC construction permits issued; 2025-08 TVA-Google-Kairos 50 MW PPA announced; 2026-04-17 groundbreaking
Workforce
Covered by NuCAMP workforce initiative (2026-08) with ORNL, UT-Knoxville, IACMI, Barnard Construction, Roane State CC, Chattanooga State CC, Oak Ridge Schools; Barnard Construction is general contractor; components fabricated at Kairos Manufacturing Development Campus, Albuquerque NM
Not verified / conflicts
ANS fetch also referenced a Samsung C&T binding term sheet (2026-09, ~$100M EPC deal per neutronbytes headline) for Hermes 2 collaboration; not opened, not used. No Hermes 2-specific job counts found.
Sources
- https://www.ans.org/news/2026-04-21/article-7964/kairos-power-breaks-ground-on-first-powerproducing-reactor-in-oak-ridge/
- https://www.kairospower.com/updates/kairos-power-breaks-ground-on-hermes-2-demonstration-plant
- https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-29/html/2024-28025.htm
- https://powermag.com/tva-inks-first-u-s-utility-ppa-for-gen-iv-nuclear-power-in-landmark-three-way-deal-with-google-kairos
- https://ans.org/news/2026-08-20/article-8310/kairos-power-others-launch-nucamp-to-develop-nuclear-workforce
About
Two-unit plant (2x35 MWt / 70 MWt total). First power-producing Gen IV reactor to receive NRC construction permit (Nov 2024, record 14-month review). Site in Oak Ridge TN adjacent to Hermes I. Privately funded (no DOE grant). Three-party offtake: Kairos Power + Google + TVA for 50 MW. First tranche of Kairos-Google master agreement (up to 500 MW by 2035). Barnard Construction likely EPC if Hermes I successful, but not yet contracted.
Key Organizations
Developer
Kairos Power
EPC Contractor
Barnard Construction
Likely EPC, contingent on Hermes I success. Barnard is constructor for Hermes I.
Power Purchase Agreements1 PPA
TVA (50 MW PPA for Google data centers in TN and AL)
announcedThree-party agreement: Kairos Power, Google, and TVA. 50 MW. First tranche of Kairos-Google 500 MW master agreement. TVA is the regulated utility offtake wrapper.
Private Funding
Google (500 MW fleet agreement)
Equity
500 MW fleet master agreement (up to 500 MW across Kairos fleet by 2035); privately funded, no DOE ARDP support
—
announced
State Policy Context
View nuclear-related legislation and energy stats for Tennessee