Google, Kairos Power, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will jointly develop the first advanced nuclear power plant dedicated to supporting hyperscale data centers in the Tennessee Valley. Under a newly signed power purchase agreement, TVA will source 50 MW of clean, always-available electricity from Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 reactor in Oak Ridge, Tenn., beginning in 2030. The electricity will supply Google data centers in Montgomery County, Tenn., and Jackson County, Ala., enabling the company to expand AI and cloud infrastructure with zero-carbon energy.
Hermes 2 represents the first commercial deployment of Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) under its broader order book with Google. The project, scaled up from 28 MW to 50 MW output, is part of a plan to bring 500 MW of advanced nuclear capacity online by 2035 to support Google’s load growth. TVA becomes the first U.S. utility to sign a PPA for a Generation IV nuclear reactor, marking a milestone in the commercialization of advanced nuclear energy.
The partners emphasize that Hermes 2 will not only deliver clean power but also help drive down costs for future reactors, enabling wider deployment of firm carbon-free electricity across TVA’s service area. The project builds on Oak Ridge’s legacy as a hub of U.S. nuclear innovation, while positioning Tennessee as a leader in next-generation energy.
• Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 reactor will supply 50 MW of 24/7 power to TVA beginning in 2030
• TVA is the first U.S. utility to buy electricity from a Generation IV nuclear reactor
• Google will receive the clean energy attributes to decarbonize regional data centers
• Kairos Power plans to deliver 500 MW of advanced nuclear capacity to Google by 2035
• Hermes 2 leverages fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology
• Oak Ridge, Tenn., hosts the plant, extending the city’s nuclear innovation legacy
“To power the future, we need to grow the availability of smart, firm energy sources,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s Global Head of Data Center Energy.
🌐 Analysis: Google’s partnership with TVA and Kairos Power underscores the rising urgency of securing clean, round-the-clock power for AI and hyperscale data centers, which increasingly strain regional grids. Kairos Power’s scaled-up Hermes 2 is designed not just as a supply source, but as a cost-learning platform to accelerate broader deployment of Gen IV nuclear. With Oak Ridge’s nuclear legacy, TVA’s first-mover status, and Google’s load growth, the project reflects how hyperscalers are directly shaping the future of America’s energy infrastructure—an area where competitors like Microsoft and Amazon are also making nuclear and long-duration storage bets.
