Kairos Power selects Samsung C&T to construct a 50MW small modular reactor for Google's data center in Tennessee; completion targeted for 2030.

US small modular reactor developer Kairos Power has selected South Korean engineering firm Samsung C&T to support construction of its 50MW demonstration reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which will supply energy to Google under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

As part of the partnership, Samsung C&T will provide up to $100 million through a combination of equity investment in Kairos and in-kind engineering services, subject to regulatory approvals. The firm has also agreed to join Kairos Power's integrated engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) team alongside other partners. The reactor is scheduled for completion by 2030 and would represent one of the first, if not the first, Generation IV nuclear reactors to be built.

Mike Laufer, CEO and co-founder of Kairos Power, said: "Samsung C&T's investment and partnership reinforce the disciplined delivery model at the core of our commercialization strategy. We look forward to working with the Samsung C&T team to strengthen the integrated capabilities needed to deliver high-quality advanced reactors to customers with greater cost and schedule certainty."

Alex CW Lee, head of energy solutions at Samsung C&T, added: "Samsung C&T is pleased to collaborate with Kairos Power as it advances a differentiated approach to clean-energy deployment. Working together, we aim to support successful project delivery and build a foundation for broader commercialization of this promising advanced reactor technology."

Kairos broke ground at the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant in April. Once operational, the reactor will supply 50MW of electricity to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) grid to support Google data centers under a PPA signed in August of last year.

The facility will demonstrate Kairos Power's Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) technology. Unlike traditional Generation III water-cooled reactors, the SMR uses fluoride molten salt as a coolant, combined with ceramic pebble-type fuel, to transport heat to a steam turbine for power generation.

Google initially backed Kairos in 2024, committing to purchase up to 500MW of power across six to seven reactors. SMRs have attracted significant interest from the data center sector as operators seek reliable power sources for their facilities. Crusoe recently partnered with Aalo Atomics on what could be the first nuclear-powered AI data center at the Idaho National Laboratory. Other major data center operators and hyperscalers supporting the technology include Data4, Oracle, Switch, and Equinix.