Amperas Nuclear Licensing Push Targets 2027 Application

The Palm Beach Gardens-based firm is navigating the NRC’s pre-application phase by providing detailed methodologies for its spherical, silicon carbide reactor cores. Unlike traditional light water systems, these subcritical units rely on an external neutron generator for control, a design choice intended to enhance safety and fuel cycle efficiency. Ampera’s roadmap aligns with the NRC’s newly created Office of Advanced Reactors, which seeks to streamline the deployment of next-generation energy technologies.

To manage this complex transition, the company has appointed Michael Hamer as Director of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs. Hamer, a U.S. Navy Nuclear Program veteran with over two decades of international experience, joins Licensing Strategist Dr. April Smith to steer the firm’s regulatory path. The team is currently integrating requirements under 10 CFR Parts 40, 53, 70, and 71 to cover everything from fuel fabrication to modular site deployment. This regulatory work complements a recent partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory aimed at advancing the company’s proprietary thorium-based fuel development.