Ampera: Is This the Dawn of Nuclear Data Centres?

Ampera has emerged from stealth mode with a nuclear microreactor platform designed to provide compact, round-the-clock clean power for AI data centres and other energy-intensive environments. 

The company, backed by a Fortune 500 technology provider operating across more than 100 countries, is developing subcritical hybrid fusion–fission microreactors built around a thorium breeder design.

Ampera’s systems are fully containerised and delivered in 15 MWe and 30 MWe configurations. The company positions these modules as an alternative to grid-constrained energy supply for large scale compute clusters, delivering autonomous power without refuelling and without producing long-lived nuclear waste.

Purpose-built for data centre workloads

Designed to meet demand from AI and cloud operators, the microreactors are intended to support high density deployments that require predictable, continuous power. The modules are engineered as preassembled units that can be located on or near data centre campuses, reducing reliance on distant generation and complex transmission upgrades.

Brian Matthews, CEO and Founder of Ampera, says: “Artificial intelligence and national defence require a new class of power – one that's clean, compact, and endlessly scalable. AMPERA exists to amplify clean energy for the AI era – redefining how nations and industries power the future.”

The reactors use subcritical operation and external neutron drivers to maintain power production without the same risks associated with traditional reactors. 

Ampera states that the approach enables a safety profile suitable for distributed energy projects, including those located close to mission-critical digital infrastructure.

Reactor development and fuel technology

Since its founding, Ampera has established advanced facilities in the US and progressed several reactor prototype programmes. The company has also developed a proprietary TRISO fuel manufacturing platform protected by 66 global patents.

TRISO fuel is engineered to contain fission products within each particle, improving safety and performance under high temperatures. Ampera’s version is designed specifically for hybrid fusion-fission environments and tailored to the requirements of the company’s microreactor architecture.

The reactors are built using additive manufacturing processes that Ampera says allow for scalable production and consistent performance across units. This manufacturing strategy also supports the containerised format, which is central to the company’s deployment model.

Clean power for AI-driven facilities

High-density AI compute clusters depend on stable, high-capacity power delivered with minimal interruption. Ampera positions its platform as a way for operators to mitigate growing constraints on grid access, long interconnection queues and competition for renewables.

Each 30 MWe module is intended for commercial use, while the 15 MWe version is positioned for defence or smaller-scale requirements. For data centre operators, the focus is on providing a stable source of clean power that can be installed in modular increments as demand grows.

Ampera’s system design incorporates AI-driven control frameworks that monitor reactor performance and adjust operating conditions automatically. These systems support autonomous operation, reducing the staffing footprint required for long-term deployment.

International expansion

As the company moves out of stealth, it is preparing to expand its international footprint through a new regional headquarters in London. 

The office will support Ampera’s partnerships across the US, UK and mainland Europe, and will serve as a base for engaging with data centre operators exploring alternative power models.

Ampera’s next steps include progressing existing prototype programmes and preparing its first commercial units for deployment.