Google Backs Kairos Power, TVA Partnership to Supply Electricity from Advanced Reactors by 2030

Google-backed nuclear startup Kairos Power has entered into an agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to supply up to 50 megawatts of electricity from its Hermes 2 reactor by 2030. This deal is the first time a US utility has committed to buying power from advanced reactors, signaling a shift in the nation's energy strategy. The partnership aims to support companies like Google and help America win the AI race.

Google-backed nuclear startup Kairos Power has entered into an agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to supply up to 50 megawatts of electricity from its Hermes 2 reactor by 2030. This deal is the first time a U.S. utility has committed to buying power from advanced reactors, signaling a shift in the nation's energy strategy. The partnership aims to support companies like Google and help America win the AI race.

Under the agreement, TVA will become the first U.S. utility to purchase electricity from an advanced fourth-generation nuclear reactor. Google will receive clean energy attributes to power its data centers in the region, according to a company blog [1]. The deal is part of a broader agreement between Google and Kairos to bring 500 megawatts of new nuclear power generation online by 2035.

Kairos Power CEO Mike Laufer stated that the agreement is "an important enabler to making advanced nuclear energy commercially competitive" [2]. The Hermes 2 Plant’s output has been expanded from 28 MW to 50 MW and is scheduled to come online in 2030. The reactor, known as Hermes 2, is a molten fluoride salt-cooled reactor, which is more efficient and safer than traditional water-cooled reactors.

This partnership is part of a broader trend where tech giants are turning to nuclear energy to meet their growing data center energy demands. Google, Amazon, and Meta have all pledged to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 [1]. The nuclear attributes purchased from TVA will go towards decarbonizing Google’s data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, serviced by the utility.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright underscored the importance of deploying advanced nuclear reactors for U.S. AI dominance and energy leadership [2]. The deal represents a significant step forward in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), which promise to be safer, cheaper, and more efficient than traditional nuclear power plants.

References:
[1] https://www.esgdive.com/news/google-kairos-power-deal-aims-for-tennessee-nuclear-reactor-by-2030-tva-ai-data-center-demands/758303/
[2] https://www.tekedia.com/google-tva-and-kairos-partner-to-power-ai-data-centers-with-next-generation-nuclear-energy/
[3] https://neutronbytes.com/2025/08/24/google-kairos-partner-to-help-power-tva/