U.S. Greenlights New Type Of Nuke Reactor

For the first time in more than 50 years, the US granted permission for a new type of nuclear reactor, signifying regulators' increasing openness to diverse approaches in power production from nuclear fission.

A rendering of the Hermes reactor. I Image: Kairos Power

According to Will Wade's report for Bloomberg News, California startup Kairos Power LLC received a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build its Hermes reactor in Tennessee.

Unlike current reactors cooled by water, Kairos's technology employs molten fluoride salt as a coolant.

Mike Laufer, Kairos’s CEO, stated that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regulatory process “doesn’t have to be a roadblock,” emphasizing the potential to license innovative designs.

Kairos aims to commercialize designs that can be factory-built and installed on-site, offering a more cost-effective solution than traditional large reactors.

Construction on the $100 million Hermes project is set to begin next year, with completion expected by late 2026, showcasing the viability of molten salt technology.

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