This public-private collaboration will help meet our data center electricity demand with advanced nuclear energy starting in 2030 and power the nuclear renaissance in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Today we announced the first deployment of Kairos Power’s advanced nuclear reactor — the Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee — through a new power purchase agreement (PPA) between Kairos Power and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Marking the first purchase of electricity from an advanced GEN IV reactor by a U.S. utility, this agreement will enable 50 megawatts (MW) of nuclear energy on TVA’s grid that powers our data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee and Jackson County, Alabama.
Last October, we began a long-term collaboration with Kairos Power to unlock up to 500 MW of nuclear power for the U.S. electricity system through multiple deployments of their small modular reactor. With this next step, we are creating a three-party solution where energy customers, utilities, and technology developers work together to advance new technologies that can help meet the world’s growing energy needs with reliable, affordable capacity.
Here’s how it works: TVA will purchase electricity from Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 plant, scheduled to begin operations in 2030. In this initial phase of the collaboration, we will procure clean energy attributes from the plant through TVA to help power our data centers in the region with locally sourced clean energy, every hour of every day.
Additionally, this project will continue to expand pathways to economic opportunity in Oak Ridge — the site of the biggest technological breakthroughs and advancements in nuclear history. Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant will help re-establish Oak Ridge as a nuclear innovation hub, including through new programs developed in partnership with the University of Tennessee and other local universities to grow local workforce talent for high-paying jobs as plant operators and engineers. Hear more in the voices of the community members and leaders themselves.
Since 2015, we have harnessed our business growth in the Tennessee Valley and close collaboration with TVA to bring the benefits of clean energy technologies to the region. Now, a decade later, we’re excited to work with TVA and Kairos Power to help catalyze the next generation of advanced energy technologies in Tennessee.