Kairos Power Raises $643 Million for Nuclear Reactors
The company secured funding from private investors and the Department of Energy to develop molten salt reactor technology.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Energy
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Kairos Power has successfully raised $643 million to accelerate the construction of its advanced nuclear technology. The capital will support the development of the 50-MW Hermes 2 demonstration reactor.
Why it matters
This investment provides the necessary financial backing to advance small-scale nuclear technology toward deployment. The project marks a key step in fulfilling the company's broader commitment to scaling advanced reactor capacity.
The funding includes $368 million from Google Ventures and Samsung C&T alongside a $275 million contribution from the Department of Energy. These funds are dedicated to the 50-MW Hermes 2 molten salt reactor.
The players
Kairos Power
This is a clean energy technology company focused on the design and deployment of advanced reactor systems.
Google Ventures
This is the venture capital arm of Alphabet Inc. that invests in early-stage and growth-stage companies.
Samsung C&T
This is a global engineering and construction firm with significant interests in energy infrastructure projects.
Department of Energy
This is the executive department of the United States federal government responsible for energy policy and nuclear safety.
The details
The capital injection bolsters Kairos Power's goal of building 500 MW of nuclear capacity by 2035. This initiative follows a 2024 partnership announcement with Google aimed at integrating advanced reactors into the energy grid.
Timeline
2024: Kairos Power and Google announced a reactor partnership.
2030: Hermes 2 demonstration reactor is planned to start.
2035: Target completion for 500 MW of nuclear reactors.
The Big Picture
The investment follows the structure of the Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program designed to accelerate nuclear innovation. This project marks a significant acceleration in the commercial deployment of non-traditional molten salt reactor technology.
The deployment of the Hermes 2 reactor could lead to the integration of more stable, carbon-free baseload power into the national grid by 2030. This technology shift aims to eventually reduce energy costs and increase reliance on modular nuclear power systems.
The takeaway
Advanced molten salt reactors represent a significant shift toward smaller, more flexible nuclear infrastructure compared to legacy plants. Investors are increasingly looking to these systems to provide reliable clean energy as demand for power grows.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving energy grid, visit the Energy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Energy Central.
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