Kairos Power Secures $643M for Advanced Nuclear Reactor
The funding supports the 50-MW Hermes 2 demonstration reactor, which is planned to switch on by 2030.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Energy
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Kairos Power has secured $643 million in funding to advance the construction of its Hermes 2 molten salt demonstration reactor. The financing round includes $368 million from private investors, led by Google Ventures and Samsung C&T, and $275 million from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Why it matters
This capital injection accelerates the development of molten salt reactor technology, a key component in the broader push to expand carbon-free nuclear capacity. It supports the company's objective to reach 500 MW of operational nuclear power by 2035.
The funding supports the 50-MW Hermes 2 demonstration reactor, which utilizes molten salt as a coolant. This capacity represents a fraction of the 500 MW total target slated for delivery by 2035.
The players
Kairos Power
An advanced nuclear energy company specializing in fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor technology.
Google Ventures
The venture capital investment arm of Alphabet, focusing on high-growth technology and energy infrastructure.
Department of Energy
The U.S. federal agency responsible for energy policy, nuclear security, and scientific research funding.
Samsung C&T
A global engineering and construction firm with extensive experience in international power plant projects.
The details
The Hermes 2 project centers on a molten salt reactor design, which uses liquid salt instead of pressurized water as a coolant. This method allows the system to operate at high temperatures without the extreme pressures required by traditional light-water reactors. The construction of this 50-MW demonstration unit is intended to validate the technology for larger-scale grid deployment.
Timeline
2024: Google and Kairos Power established a partnership for reactor deployment.
2030: The Hermes 2 demonstration reactor is planned to switch on.
2035: Target completion date for 500 MW of nuclear capacity.
The Tech Race
This development marks a significant acceleration within the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, moving beyond initial research toward physical construction. It places the firm in direct pursuit of the 500 MW milestone, trailing established light-water industry standards while testing a new cooling paradigm.
The deployment of these reactors is intended to provide reliable, carbon-free baseload power for large-scale energy consumers like data centers. While the technology is currently in the demonstration phase, it is designed to integrate into the national grid by 2035 to meet industrial power demands.
The takeaway
This funding provides the necessary capital to move beyond the design phase and into the physical construction of specialized high-temperature reactors. Investors and grid operators should monitor the 2030 startup date for the Hermes 2 reactor to gauge the viability of molten salt cooling at scale.
What happens next
The company expects to reach the next major project milestone when the Hermes 2 demonstration reactor switches on in 2030.
Further reading
For more on the shift toward modular and advanced nuclear infrastructure, visit our Energy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Energy Central.
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