Building on UCOR’s cleanup success at ETTP, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced today that it has signed a power purchase agreement with Kairos Power for its Hermes 2 reactor, which will be built on the former K-33 gaseous diffusion building site. The collaboration will bolster the country’s leadership in advanced nuclear energy, delivering up to 50 megawatts (MW) of reliable, 24/7 energy to the TVA grid.
TVA is the first U.S. utility to sign a power purchase agreement to buy electricity from an advanced reactor. Kairos Power started construction on the Hermes 1 Low-Power Demonstration Reactor in July 2024 at ETTP, the first Gen IV reactor to be approved for construction by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the first non-light-water reactor to be permitted in the U.S. in over 50 years. Kairos Power will increase Hermes 2’s output from 28 MW to 50 MW and is scheduled to begin operations in 2030.
“This collaboration is an important enabler to making advanced nuclear energy commercially competitive,” said Mike Laufer, Kairos Power CEO and co-founder. “The re-envisioned Hermes 2 gets us closer to the commercial fleet sooner and could only be made possible by close collaboration with TVA and Google, and a supportive local community. We are excited to grow Kairos Power’s operations in Oak Ridge while writing a new chapter in the region’s distinguished nuclear history.”
“Tennessee’s legacy of nuclear innovation positions the Volunteer State to lead America’s energy dominance and drive continued economic growth with safe, clean, and reliable nuclear energy,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I thank Kairos Power for its commitment to expand their presence in East Tennessee, which will further strengthen our nuclear ecosystem and bring greater opportunity to Tennesseans.” Read the full announcement here.
