Kairos Power reported in a statement that it completed the first safety-related concrete pour for the Hermes reactor. Hermes reactor reactor in Tennessee, making it the first non-water-cooled reactor to begin construction under a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) permit.
Hermes is based on a high-temperature technology using TRISO fuel and molten fluoride salt coolant, known as Flibe. The design includes 51 large-diameter bored piles, which are anchored at a depth of 12 meters above bedrock, ensuring structural stability at the Oak Ridge site.
Stages in the construction of the Hermes reactor
The road to this spill began in July 2024 with preliminary works and reached a key milestone thanks to Kairos Power’s iterative approach. Earlier trials with test units such as the ETU 3.0 enabled the construction processes and quality control systems now in place at Hermes to be perfected.
The project is being executed by Barnard Construction and is financially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The purpose of this support is to mitigate licensing, technology and supply chain risks for future commercial development.
Hermes represents a fundamental step towards the commercialization of systems such as the KP-FHR. Thanks to its inherently safe design and operational efficiency, this reactor aims to become a benchmark for the future of clean energy, helping to reduce emissions and secure long-term power supply.
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Source and photos: Kairos Power
