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NRG PALLAS Performs Fuels and Materials Testing for Kairos Power Commercial SMR Fleet - March 20, 2025

NRG PALLAS has signed a major contract with U.S. nuclear energy engineering, technology, and manufacturing company KAIROS POWER to assess materials and fuels that will be used in its Small Modular Reactor fleet. KAIROS POWER will build a number of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for Google data centres to deliver 500MW of clean electricity generation.

Arjan Vreeling (Manager R&D Nuclear Fuels & Materials at NRG PALLAS): "With the current digitalisation, the demand for electricity is increasing. Companies like Google are looking ahead and arranging their own future energy needs with Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). We are proud that KAIROS POWER, a major player in the field of advanced reactors, has commissioned this innovative research from us.”

Micah Hackett (Vice President, Fuels & Materials at KAIROS POWER): “KAIROS POWER depends on precise and reliable irradiation performance data to advance our reactor technology, supporting both design and licensing efforts. With decades of expertise in generating superior irradiation data, NRG PALLAS is a trusted partner, helping KAIROS POWER meet cost and schedule commitments for Google and our future customers.”

KAIROS POWER is fully focused on commercialising the fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR), an advanced (generation IV) SMR under development. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued construction permits for the company’s first demonstration reactor, “Hermes,” and a follow-on iteration, “Hermes 2.” The company will build on lessons learned from the Hermes series to deploy the first plants in its commercial fleet for Google, with the first electrical generation capacity expected to come online by 2030.

KAIROS POWER has signed several agreements with NRG PALLAS to perform irradiation demonstration and qualification of fuels and materials to support the KP-FHR commercial program. The fuel irradiation program at the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten will demonstrate the performance envelope needed for successful KP-FHR commercial operations. On this basis, KAIROS POWER can demonstrate to the U.S. regulator how the fuel satisfies safety and performance requirements.

KAIROS POWER’s collaboration with NRG PALLAS on graphite irradiation testing will be a valuable demonstration of the graphite reflector structure used in the KP-FHR reactor core. NRG PALLAS will perform irradiation services that characterize the graphite’s response to high levels of neutron
exposure and demonstrate the safety limits for the graphite structures. The graphite’s post-irradiation properties are an important metric in NRC licensing and inform the safety of the reactor technology.

Similarly, NRG PALLAS is supporting KAIROS POWER with irradiation testing of the stainless-steel material used for the reactor vessel and structural components to demonstrate safety and design limits for important licensing activities with the U.S. NRC.

NRG PALLAS has more than 50 years of experience in nuclear fuel research. Using the HFR, NRG PALLAS simulates ageing processes in an accelerated manner, measuring the irradiation of materials and fuels to assess their safe use in nuclear reactors. The newly built PALLAS-reactor will continue this work, ensuring long-term continuity.

NRG PALLAS has been carrying out research for KAIROS POWER on the use of graphite for multiple years. The new contracts mark an important continuation of the long-term relationship with this innovative advanced reactor developer.