Google, Kairos Power, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced on August 18, 2025, a landmark partnership to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear energy in the United States. The agreement centers on Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which will provide up to 50 megawatts (MW) of reliable, around-the-clock clean power to TVA’s grid. This electricity will directly support Google’s data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama, helping the company meet its ambitious decarbonization goals.
The deal marks the first time a U.S. utility has agreed to purchase electricity from a Generation IV nuclear reactor, positioning TVA at the forefront of energy innovation. Kairos Power, which is commercializing its fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology, is scaling Hermes 2 beyond its initial 28 MW design to 50 MW. Operations are expected to begin in 2030, making it the first advanced reactor to supply commercial power under Kairos Power’s broader agreement with Google to bring 500 MW of new nuclear capacity online by 2035.
For Google, the project is both a climate and business strategy. By sourcing firm, carbon-free energy, the company ensures its growing digital infrastructure is powered sustainably, while also strengthening regional grid reliability. “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. The initiative also underscores Google’s broader role in shaping how industrial energy users can work with utilities and technology developers to bring next-generation solutions to market.
Kairos Power CEO Mike Laufer described Hermes 2 as a milestone in making advanced nuclear energy commercially competitive, enabled through collaboration with TVA, Google, and the Oak Ridge community. Oak Ridge, with its historic role in nuclear innovation, will again become a hub for breakthrough technologies. The project is expected to create high-paying engineering and operator jobs, strengthen supply chains, and drive local workforce development programs in partnership with regional universities.
Policymakers and energy leaders have hailed the project as a defining moment for America’s clean energy leadership. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called it “essential to U.S. AI dominance and energy leadership,” while Tennessee Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn emphasized its role in strengthening national security and economic growth. With Hermes 2, Google, Kairos Power, and TVA are not only advancing nuclear energy but also reshaping how utilities and private industry collaborate to meet rising electricity demand in the AI era.
