The NRC approved plans for Hermes 2 — a scaled-up version of the Hermes demonstration reactor — following the Hermes 1 construction permit approval in December 2023. Hermes 2 will demonstrate commercial-scale Kairos Power FHR technology ahead of full deployment under the Google 500 MW Master Plant Development Agreement. Kairos Power's CEO Mike Laufer stated the Google deal is "an important enabler to making advanced nuclear energy commercially competitive."