AMPERA Partners with Lawrence Livermore Lab to Advance Thorium Nuclear Fuel
Event summary
- AMPERA and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) announced a strategic partnership on August 26, 2026, to develop scalable advanced nuclear fuel for compact and subcritical reactor platforms.
- The collaboration focuses on optimizing liquid-metal-jetting technology to produce highly uniform, spherical thorium-232 kernels for TRISO fuel.
- AMPERA holds over 60 patents related to its proprietary liquid-metal-jetting technology and advanced TRISO fuel manufacturing processes.
- The partnership aims to accelerate AMPERA's strategy to establish a secure domestic advanced nuclear fuel supply chain.
The big picture
This partnership aligns with broader industry trends toward advanced nuclear energy systems that prioritize safety, scalability, and long-term operational efficiency. AMPERA's focus on thorium-based TRISO fuel and subcritical reactors positions it within a niche segment of the nuclear energy market, aiming to reduce supply-chain risks and enhance operational control. The collaboration with LLNL underscores the strategic importance of public-private partnerships in driving innovation in advanced manufacturing and nuclear fuel technologies.
What we're watching
- Technology Maturation
- The pace at which liquid-metal-jetting technology can be optimized for commercial-scale production of thorium-232 kernels.
- Regulatory Dynamics
- How the collaboration with a national laboratory may influence regulatory approvals for AMPERA's advanced nuclear fuel and reactor platforms.
- Market Adoption
- Whether AMPERA can leverage this partnership to accelerate the deployment of its subcritical nuclear energy systems in data centers, defense, industrial, and maritime applications.