en.Wedoany.com Reported - AMPERA has completed production of its first full-scale 3D-printed nuclear reactor module, marking a significant milestone for the Florida-based company in advancing its factory-built thorium-based nuclear reactor plans.
The module, which integrates the reactor core and pressure vessel, was officially unveiled at AMPERA's innovation center in a ceremony attended by over 100 participants, including local officials, business leaders, and company employees.
Brian Matthews, founder and CEO of AMPERA, stated that this next-generation nuclear core and pressure vessel lay the foundation for factory-based, mass production of nuclear energy. The advanced technology and additive manufacturing employed demonstrate a clear commercial pathway to accelerate the introduction of new nuclear technologies to the market. The core, 3D-printed from silicon carbide, is designed as a spherical monolithic gyroid structure, capable of operating for up to 30 years without refueling, and utilizes TRISO (Tri-structural Isotropic) thorium fuel kernels. To secure thorium fuel supply and support advanced nuclear fuel production in the U.S., AMPERA established an Australian subsidiary in June.
AMPERA stated that its system achieves inherent safety through core design and physical characteristics, reducing reliance on active safety systems and operator intervention. The reactor is expected to output up to 30 megawatts of power, with plans for larger configurations. Matthews noted that the reactor primarily targets markets with strong electricity demand, such as artificial intelligence data centers, defense, industry, and maritime sectors. The company aims to become the first to industrialize factory-built nuclear energy within a near-term deployment timeline.
The module is part of AMPERA's "Power Now. Nuclear Next." strategy, launched last week. This strategy is built around an integrated energy architecture platform that combines waste heat recovery and conventional fuel power generation with planned nuclear systems, with both configurations sharing approximately two-thirds of their components.
