Executive Summary
Kairos Power secured up to $100 million in funding from Samsung C&T Corporation, the engineering and construction arm of Samsung Group, to support construction of its first 50 MW molten salt nuclear reactor for Google. The plant will supply power to Google under a previously announced power purchase agreement. This marks Samsung’s entry into the U.S. advanced nuclear market and validates the hyperscaler strategy of backing next-generation nuclear developers with long-term offtake commitments.
The Players
Kairos Power is a California-based advanced nuclear startup developing fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactors (FHRs). The company received a construction permit from the NRC in 2023 for a demonstration reactor in Tennessee and has been working toward commercial deployment since.
Google announced a 500 MW PPA with Kairos in October 2024, making it the first hyperscaler to commit to advanced nuclear at scale. The initial 50 MW unit is the first phase of that broader deployment.
The Numbers
Samsung’s commitment is structured as up to $100 million. Of that, $70 million will be a direct equity investment. The remainder will be part of “in-kind” engineering services provided by Samsung.
So What?
This deal proves the hyperscaler nuclear playbook is moving from PowerPoint to steel in the ground. Google’s offtake commitment de-risked the project enough to attract a Tier 1 construction partner with the balance sheet to deliver. Samsung’s involvement also signals confidence that modular nuclear can be built on time and on budget — a critical hurdle for the technology.
For power developers: If you’re sitting on behind-the-meter generation opportunities near hyperscaler campuses, advanced nuclear is now a credible option alongside gas turbines and fuel cells. The key is locking in an offtaker early and partnering with a construction firm that can absorb schedule risk.
For investors: Watch Kairos’ construction timeline closely. If they hit commercial operation by 2030 as they are prediciting, expect a wave of follow-on orders from other hyperscalers. Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are all evaluating similar deals. The bottleneck is no longer capital — it’s execution.
Source: TechCrunch, September 21, 2026
