Kairos Power and Samsung C&T Agree to Pursue Strategic Investment and Collaboration for KP-FHR Deployment
Collaboration combines Kairos Power’s advanced reactor technology and manufacturing capabilities with Samsung C&T’s global engineering, construction, project delivery, and financing experience
ALAMEDA, Calif. — September 21, 2026 — Kairos Power and Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group (“Samsung C&T”) today announced the signing of a binding term sheet for Samsung C&T to make a strategic investment in Kairos Power and for the companies to collaborate on the commercial deployment of Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor technology (KP-FHR) to address rising global energy demand.
Samsung C&T has agreed to provide up to $100 million through a combination of direct investment and in-kind engineering services, subject to regulatory approvals, to enable the successful delivery of the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The investment will further strengthen Kairos Power’s financial readiness as the company advances Hermes 2 and prepares for broader commercial deployment of KP-FHR technology.
In addition, Samsung C&T has agreed to join Kairos Power’s integrated engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) team alongside other partners, providing expertise and capabilities to support the delivery of Hermes 2 and future KP-FHR plants. The companies plan to collaborate on selected engineering and construction activities to strengthen technical and execution readiness, initially focused on power-generation systems and balance-of-plant scope.
This builds on a trilateral memorandum of understanding signed by Samsung C&T, Kairos Power, and Barnard Construction on August 18, aimed at establishing an early framework for reliable project execution.
The addition of Samsung C&T to the Kairos-Power-led integrated EPC team further strengthens the credibility of the KP-FHR project-execution model, with strong partnerships that leverage each team member’s demonstrated capabilities. Kairos Power plans to lead reactor technology, engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and construction for the nuclear island, while Samsung C&T has agreed to support selected engineering and construction activities, initially focused on power-generation systems and the balance of plant. Kairos Power’s project management organization plans to provide continuous project leadership, controls, and execution oversight throughout development and construction to support cost and schedule objectives.
The collaboration combines Kairos Power’s expertise in designing, engineering, and manufacturing advanced reactor systems and components with Samsung C&T’s extensive engineering and construction-management capabilities for major projects. Together, the EPC team intends to lay the groundwork for future collaboration to support scaled deployment of a standardized commercial KP-FHR design.
“Samsung C&T’s investment and partnership reinforce the disciplined delivery model at the core of our commercialization strategy,” said Mike Laufer, CEO and co-founder of Kairos Power. “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.”
“Deploying advanced nuclear energy at commercial scale requires strong, capable partners across the full project lifecycle,” said Ed Blandford, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Kairos Power. “Our integrated EPC team brings together the complementary technology, engineering, manufacturing, and project-delivery capabilities needed to advance Hermes 2 and establish a foundation for broad deployment of KP-FHR technology."
“Samsung C&T’s collaboration is a meaningful endorsement of Kairos Power’s execution strategy and commercialization pathway from a world-class partner,” said Jeff Olson, Vice President of Commercial and Corporate Development at Kairos Power. “The partnership represents a direct benefit to Kairos Power’s current and future customer base by strengthening our financial position and further advancing our deployment model both within the U.S. and internationally.”
“Samsung C&T is pleased to collaborate with Kairos Power as it advances a differentiated approach to clean-energy deployment,” said Alex CW Lee, Head of Energy Solution Business Unit at Samsung C&T. “Working together, we aim to support successful project delivery and build a foundation for broader commercialization of this promising advanced reactor technology.”
Advancing Hermes 2 and Commercial KP-FHR Deployment
Kairos Power received construction permits from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the Hermes 2 plant in December 2024 and broke ground in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in April 2026. The grid-connected, 50 MWe reactor will demonstrate KP-FHR technology at a relevant scale to mitigate technical, licensing, manufacturing, and construction uncertainty for the full-size commercial plants that will follow it.
Kairos Power’s commercial offering is a modular, scalable clean energy solution with the flexibility to meet the evolving demands of modern electricity markets. Designed for multi-unit deployment, the high-temperature reactor combines TRISO particle fuel with molten fluoride salt coolant to support efficient electricity production with robust inherent safety.
Kairos Power has made significant progress toward commercializing KP-FHR technology, leveraging the engineering, manufacturing, operational, and regulatory experience gained through its disciplined iterative development approach.
The U.S. Department of Energy is supporting the development and demonstration of Kairos Power’s technology through an Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program risk reduction award, complementing Kairos Power’s substantial private investment.
About Kairos Power
Kairos Power is a mission-driven nuclear technology, engineering, and manufacturing company singularly focused on commercializing the fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) – a clean energy solution that can be deployed with robust safety at an affordable cost to enable deep decarbonization. Founded in 2016, the company is applying a rapid iterative development approach and vertical integration strategy to bring advanced reactor technology to market.
In 2023, Kairos Power received the first U.S. construction permit for a non-water-cooled reactor to be issued in over 50 years. Kairos Power broke ground in April 2026 on the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which will supply 50 MW of clean electricity to the TVA grid, under a multi-plant development agreement with Google.
Kairos Power’s mission is to enable the world’s clean energy transition to improve people’s quality of life while protecting the environment. Learn more at kairospower.com.
About Samsung C&T Corporation
Samsung C&T Corporation is a global engineering and construction company with more than 40 years of experience across commercial and residential buildings, civil infrastructure, and plant construction. Its Engineering & Construction Group has delivered major projects worldwide, including Burj Khalifa, the Riyadh Metro Project in Saudi Arabia, the Qurayyah 4,000-megawatt combined-cycle power plant project, and the Qatar 2,000-megawatt solar power project.
Samsung C&T has delivered 12 gigawatts across 10 nuclear units, including the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates and Uljin Units 5 and 6 in South Korea. The company has also undertaken nuclear power plant refurbishment work and front-end engineering and design for small modular reactors, including partnerships supporting SMR development projects in Romania, Estonia, Sweden, and Poland.
Forward-Looking Statements
Kairos Power LLC (the “Company”) cautions that statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements relating to our strategic and operational plans, future operating and financial performance, product development, market position and business strategy. In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements are based upon information available to management as of the date of this press release; while management believes such information forms a reasonable basis for those statements, its information may be limited or incomplete, and those statements should not be read to indicate that management has conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
