Samsung C&T Joins Kairos Power in $100M Deal to Build Nuclear Reactor for Google
Samsung C&T signs a $100 million deal with Kairos Power to help build the Hermes 2 advanced nuclear reactor in Tennessee, providing clean energy for Google data centers by 2030.
The artificial intelligence boom requires massive amounts of electricity, and tech giants are seeking creative solutions. Samsung C&T, the engineering and construction arm of the Samsung conglomerate, has signed a roughly $100 million deal with energy company Kairos Power to help build an advanced nuclear reactor supplying power to Google data centers. As part of the agreement, Samsung will make a direct $70 million investment in the company and provide engineering services.
The project, known as "Hermes 2," is scheduled to be built in Tennessee and become operational by 2030. The reactor will supply about 50 megawatts of clean energy to the electrical grid feeding Google data centers in the region. This is a significant first step under a broad agreement between Google and Kairos Power aiming for a total output of half a gigawatt of nuclear energy by 2035.
Samsung's selection is no coincidence, given the company's extensive experience building dozens of nuclear reactors worldwide. The new reactor will rely on advanced high-temperature technology cooled by molten salt, alongside specialized nuclear fuel coated in ceramic layers. This innovative design aims to prevent core meltdown risks and ensure exceptional safety not yet implemented on a commercial scale.
This dramatic collaboration highlights Silicon Valley's growing realization that wind and solar energy alone are not enough to power demanding AI infrastructure. By investing in small modular nuclear reactors, Google and other tech giants hope to secure a stable, continuous, and green electricity supply enabling them to maintain their technological revolution leadership.
