Overview
- AMPERA announced it has produced and shown what it calls a full-scale, 3D-printed reactor module built as a single silicon carbide gyroid core and outer pressure vessel.
- The company says the core is loaded with TRISO thorium fuel kernels and is engineered for roughly 30 years of operation without refueling while producing about 30 megawatts of electrical power in its initial configuration.
- AMPERA also disclosed an Australian subsidiary to secure raw thorium and described using additive manufacturing plus a proprietary liquid-jetting process to make TRISO kernels and other factory parts.
- As part of a commercial plan called “Power Now. Nuclear Next.” AMPERA is selling interim supercritical CO2, gas-powered modular systems that share components with its planned nuclear units to generate near-term revenue.
- TRISO particles and thorium fuel cycles have long research histories but limited commercial use, so independent fuel qualification, regulatory licensing and on-site power tests will be needed before customers can deploy the factory-built modules.