Florida-based startup Ampera has reached a significant milestone in energy infrastructure, unveiling what it claims is the world’s first 3D-printed nuclear reactor module. The prototype microreactor, featuring a silicon carbide core and pressure vessel, was showcased at the company’s innovation center in Palm Beach Gardens.
Additive Manufacturing and Thorium Fuel
Ampera’s design utilizes a spherical monolithic gyroid core, a complex geometric structure that maximizes surface area for efficient heat transfer. Due to its intricate shape, the core is produced using additive manufacturing (3D printing). The reactor is designed to be factory-built and mass-produced, potentially shortening the deployment timelines for nuclear energy.
The system is based on a subcritical, solid-state thorium design. Unlike traditional reactors, it uses TRISO (tristructural isotropic) particles containing thorium. Because Thorium-232 is not fissile on its own, the system requires a proprietary "neutron driver" to initiate and sustain the reaction, a safety feature that prevents runaway power excursions.
Targeting the Datacenter Market
With the surging power demands of AI and large-scale computing, Ampera is positioning its modules as a scalable solution for datacenters, defense applications, and off-grid sites. The planned systems are expected to provide 15 or 30 MWe depending on the configuration, with larger units planned for the future. The company claims these modules can operate for up to 30 years without the need for refueling.
Ampera anticipates that the power generation components of the system could be available as early as 2027. However, the full nuclear module is not expected to reach customers until approximately 2030, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
