Kairos Power one of four SMR developers invited to build on Texas A&M site
It's part of a project called “The Energy Proving Ground."
Have you heard that they think really big in the Lone Star state?
In that vein, we took note of an announcement that the Texas A&M University System has announced its intention to bring more nuclear power to the state’s electrical grid by way of offering land near campus to several nuclear reactor companies to build small modular reactors (SMRs), and one of those is Kairos Power that has announced plans to construct Hermes 1 and 2 in Oak Ridge.
In a news release from Texas A&M University, the school system said reactor manufacturers haven’t found suitable places to build clusters of reactors to supply power needed for projects like data centers and artificial intelligence endeavors.
“Plain and simple: the United States needs more power,” Chancellor John Sharp said. “And nowhere in the country, other than Texas, is anyone willing to step up and build the power plants we need. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Greg Abbott and others in Texas state government, Texas A&M System stands ready to step up and do what is necessary for the country to thrive.”
The four nuclear companies were identified as Kairos Power, Natura Resources, Terrestrial Energy, and Aalo Atomics. System officials said they have each agreed to work with the system to bring reactors to Texas A&M-RELLIS as part of a project called “The Energy Proving Ground.”
Kairos Power also issued its own news release about the project, quoting Mike Laufer, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer.
“The surging demand for clean electricity has brought nuclear energy to the forefront as a vital source of reliable, carbon-free baseload,” he said. “We are excited about the momentum for new nuclear deployment at Texas A&M-RELLIS and its potential to support U.S. energy security and continued economic growth. We look forward to collaborating with the Texas A&M System to advance Kairos Power’s clean energy mission and play a new role in developing the nation’s future nuclear workforce.”
Founded in 2016, the company is unique in applying a rapid iterative development approach and vertical integration strategy to bring advanced reactor technology to market. In 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit for Kairos Power’s Hermes demonstration reactor – the first non-water-cooled reactor to be approved for construction in the U.S. in more than 50 years.
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