NRC okays construction permits for Hermes 2 test facility

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced yesterday that it has directed staff to issue construction permits to Kairos Power for the company's proposed Hermes 2 nonpower test reactor facility to be built at the Heritage Center Industrial Park in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The permits authorize Kairos to build a facility with two 35-MWt test reactors that would use molten salt to cool the reactor cores.

The NRC completed the permitting process in less than 18 months. "This shows we can rapidly apply relevant conclusions from earlier reviews to promptly reach decisions on new reactors," said NRC chair Christopher Hanson.

Following a streamlined mandatory hearing process conducted via written documents, the NRC authorized its Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation to issue the permits, having found the staff's review of the Hermes 2 application adequate to make the necessary regulatory safety and environmental findings. The staff expects to issue the permits in the near future.

Details: The Hermes 2 facility would include the two reactors and a shared power generation system. It is intended to provide operational data to support the development of a larger version for commercial electricity production. The NRC would need to review and approve a future application from Kairos before operating licenses for the facility could be issued.

Background: Kairos submitted its application to build Hermes 2 in July 2023. The NRC issued its final safety evaluation for the permits on July 19, 2024, and the final environmental assessment for the site on August 30, 2024.