Kairos Power launches NuCAMP to advance local nuclear trades, accelerate advanced nuclear reactor deployment
"Our Hermes 2 will be the first fluoride, self-cooled, high-temperature reactor to regenerate 50 megawatts for the Tennessee Valley. The work we're doing here is about more than one plant, though. We are creating a blueprint to scale nuclear power across the U.S., and NuCAMP is part of that," said Mike McGuire, VP of operations and site delivery.
On Aug. 18, energy and community leaders gathered at Kairos Power to celebrate the launch of the Nuclear Construction and Manufacturing Partnership (NuCAMP).
Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Dr. Stephen Streiffer, set the tone for the day by reflecting on how far the site has come. Just under a year ago, he said the site was merely a gravel pit. Now, it’s a true building. Though still under construction, it’s now real enough to stand in, host a ceremony and welcome people inside.
To make that happen, it took welders, technicians and skilled tradespeople. That’s exactly the point of NuCAMP. The same workforce that raised these walls is the workforce the nuclear industry will need, at far greater scale, to build the reactors themselves.
Opening remarks
Mike McGuire, recently named VP of Operations and Site Delivery, opened the ceremony. Just a few weeks into the role after time at SpaceX, McGuire brings experience leading and scaling high-technology systems in a no-fail environment, which is expertise directly relevant to Kairos’ mission.
“Just like launch, advanced nuclear power requires innovative ideas, exceptional teams and the willingness to learn by doing — to build real hardware, like you see behind me. Test it, maybe until it fails, iterate quickly and then when you get it right, scale it very quickly,” McGuire said. “This site is our reactor demonstration campus. Everything we do here is focused on transforming the way we deliver nuclear energy infrastructure and facilities in this country.”
But going back to why we all gathered, none of that happens without tradespeople.
“This event today is really about bringing together the pieces it will take to build the future of nuclear energy right here in Tennessee — industry, government, our national laboratories, higher education, and most critically, the skilled workforce that actually turns these ideas into reality. Together, we’re developing not only new ways to construct nuclear facilities, but also the workforce that’s going to operate them in the field for decades to come,” he said.
What will NuCAMP look like in practice?
Ed Blandford, CTO and co-founder of Kairos Power, explained that under a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Kairos Power will lead the initiative alongside:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UTK)
- The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI)
- Barnard Construction
- Roane State Community College
- Chattanooga State Community College
- Oak Ridge Schools
- Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group
- Cambridge Vacuum Engineering.
Over the next year, the group will research things like precast concrete construction for safety-related nuclear structures, electron beam welding to join large metal components with limited distortion and more. They’ll also work on getting these research focuses approved and licensed, and then train the people who will actually use them on the job.
On the workforce side:
- UTK is looking at starting two new master’s degree programs — one for factory-based nuclear manufacturing, and one for precast concrete construction.
- Chattanooga State and Roane State are looking at new training for nuclear welders, concrete production workers and more.
- Oak Ridge Schools is exploring how to teach these skills earlier, through new programs for middle and high school students.
Closing remarks
No nuclear event in Tennessee is complete without Congressman Chuck Fleischmann.
“The reason we keep winning in Tennessee is because of our local, state and federal leaders, our academic institutions, our industries, and our vision for things like NuCAMP,” he ended. “Chris Wright once used the term Manhattan Project Two, and I could not agree with him more. We’re going to win.”
The room agreed. But as McGuire made clear, having NuCAMP be a success isn’t just a Tennessee win. It’s a national one.
“Our Hermes 2 will be the first fluoride, salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor to supply electricity to the grid and generate 50 megawatts of power for the Tennessee Valley,” said McGuire. “The work we’re doing here is about more than one plant, though. We are creating a blueprint to build a commercial fleet, scaling nuclear power across the U.S. NuCAMP is part of that.”
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