Startup develops 3D-printed thorium microreactor modules delivering 30MW capacity per unit, designed for 30-year autonomous operation at AI DC sites.
US startup Ampera unveiled what it claims is the first 3D-printed nuclear reactor module at an event in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, attended by over 100 local officials, business leaders, and employees. The prototype microreactor features a fully 3D-printed silicon carbide reactor core and pressure vessel designed to deliver scalable, emission-free power for datacenters, defense applications, and off-grid sites.
Founder and CEO Brian Matthews presented the advance as foundational for mass-produced nuclear energy. "This next-generation nuclear core and pressure vessel sets the foundation for factory-built, mass-produced nuclear energy," he said. "The advanced technology and additive manufacturing used demonstrate a clear commercial path for new nuclear technology coming to market in an accelerated manner."
Ampera is developing a subcritical, solid-state, factory-built thorium-based reactor. The subcritical design prevents a runaway power excursion because the fuel cannot sustain a nuclear chain reaction on its own. Rather than liquid fuel, the design uses solid TRISO particles—tristructural isotropic fuel kernels containing thorium, surrounded by multiple ceramic and carbon layers.
Thorium-232 is not fissile on its own. When it absorbs a neutron, it decays through thorium-233 and protactinium-233 into fissile uranium-233. This process requires an external neutron source, which Ampera provides through a proprietary neutron driver to start and sustain operation. In June, Ampera announced an Australian subsidiary to secure thorium supplies and stated it plans to produce TRISO fuel kernels domestically. "Thorium is the future for ultra-safe, clean power production," Matthews said. "By producing TRISO thorium kernels in the United States, we can ensure ample access to the needed fuel supply as we scale up and also minimize price volatility risk."
The reactor's heart is a spherical monolithic gyroid core—a complex shape that provides massive surface area relative to its volume, making it ideal for heat transfer but difficult to manufacture using conventional methods. Additive manufacturing solves this challenge. The silicon carbide core is designed to operate for up to 30 years without refueling.
Ampera's planned systems will provide either 15 or 30 MWe depending on configuration, sufficient to power a typical datacenter, with larger configurations in development. When asked about availability, the company stated: "We expect the power generation portion of the system to be available as early as 2027, with the nuclear module being available to customers about 2030 based on regulatory approval." The company declined to disclose details about how its Neutron Driver generates neutrons for startup and operation.
Beyond datacenters, defense customers represent a likely market if Ampera can deliver reliable working reactors. Earlier this year, the US Department of the Air Force announced it was exploring microreactors for three of its sites as part of a program to improve energy resilience during grid outages.