NRG-Pallas Selected to Test Fuel for Kairos Power’s Modular Reactor

NRG-Pallas will conduct irradiation tests necessary for qualifying materials and fuel of Kairos Power's modular reactor, a critical prerequisite for regulatory approval in the United States.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

The Dutch company NRG-Pallas has been contracted by the American company Kairos Power to carry out irradiation tests aimed at qualifying the fuels and materials for its future modular reactor. The results will enable Kairos Power to meet the requirements set by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), a crucial step prior to the operational launch of its technology.

Rigorous Testing of Fuel and Materials

NRG-Pallas will utilize its High Flux Reactor (HFR), located in Petten, Netherlands, to assess fuel performance under actual irradiation conditions. These tests will provide Kairos Power with the necessary data to demonstrate the compliance of its fuel with the nuclear safety regulatory standards mandated by the NRC. Structural materials, particularly stainless steel intended for the reactor vessel, will also undergo specific irradiation tests to verify their strength and regulatory compliance.

The company will additionally carry out extensive testing of graphite properties used in internal reactor structures. The behavior of graphite under high neutron exposure is a critical parameter to ensure system safety. Post-irradiation results from these tests will serve as a significant reference within the NRC certification process.

Gradual Deployment of KP-FHR Technology

Kairos Power is developing a Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) utilizing ceramic TRISO (Tri-structural Isotropic) fuel in pebble form. The company has already begun construction of an experimental reactor named Hermes at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, authorized by the NRC in 2023. This experimental unit, with a thermal capacity of 35 MW, is scheduled to begin operation in 2027.

In parallel, Kairos Power is preparing the next stage with the Hermes 2 project, comprising two modular reactors generating a total of approximately 20 MW electric via a shared turbine. This second project recently received its final environmental assessment from the NRC and will also be built at the Oak Ridge site.

Strategic Partnership with Google

Kairos Power envisages a commercial offering based on plants equipped with two modular units of 75 MW electric each, thus reaching a cumulative capacity of 150 MW. Within this context, an agreement signed last year with Google anticipates the commercial deployment of the first KP-FHR reactors by 2030. These units will directly supply Google’s data centers through long-term power purchase agreements.

This project aligns with a broader trend of growing demand for stable energy, driven notably by the expansion of global digital infrastructure. According to Micah Hackett, Vice President of Fuels and Materials at Kairos Power, obtaining reliable irradiation data is essential to ensuring the company’s compliance with industrial and commercial timelines and cost commitments.

Arkansas has appointed Excel Services to analyse the economic, technological and logistical outlook of a new nuclear programme, with results expected within ten months.
Operator Belgoprocess has received authorisation to build a new facility to store waste generated from the ongoing decommissioning of Belgium’s nuclear reactors.
The British government has launched a consultation on the regulatory justification request for Rolls-Royce’s modular reactor, a decisive step towards its approval in the country’s nuclear market.
GVH and Samsung C&T join forces to accelerate international deployment of BWRX-300 small modular reactors, with a strong focus on Sweden and the consolidation of the nuclear supply chain.
The Swedish government aims to establish a right to compensation for operators if a political reversal leads to the early shutdown of nuclear plants, in a move to reduce investment risks.
Duke Energy adds a large nuclear reactor project to its 2025 plan for the Carolinas, anticipating electricity demand more than twice previous forecasts.
EDF has selected Arabelle Solutions to supply two complete turbine islands for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, strengthening their industrial cooperation initiated at Hinkley Point C.
The Italian government has approved a bill granting the executive authority to regulate the return of nuclear energy, in line with European carbon neutrality and energy security targets for 2050.
Framatome and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission have commissioned a specialised industrial line in Jeumont for the manufacturing of nuclear components used in French Navy vessels.
Italian company Terra Innovatum is advancing the commercialisation of its SOLO micro-reactor, with two new partnerships and $42.5mn in funding as part of a merger with a listed company.
The Nurlikum Mining joint venture enters a new industrial phase with the launch of the South Djengeldi project, targeting annual production of 500 tonnes of uranium over ten years in Uzbekistan.
The containment structure over Chernobyl’s destroyed reactor lost power after a Russian strike, as Zaporizhzhia remains cut off from external electricity for over a week.
Uranium deliveries to U.S. civilian operators rose 8% in 2024, while the average price climbed to its highest level since 2012, according to the latest available data.
The Vice-Chairman of Russia’s Security Council believes more countries will develop nuclear weapons and generative AI technologies as a result of increasing public sector efforts.
An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.
US-based Oklo and Sweden’s Blykalla join forces to coordinate supply chains and regulatory data sharing to accelerate the commercial deployment of their metal-cooled small modular reactors.
EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.
The Ministry of Energy will initiate talks with developers of small nuclear reactors after signing a cooperation agreement with the United States to conduct preliminary studies on their deployment.
The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.