The world's data infrastructure, the data centers fueling everything from cloud services to advanced AI, is demanding ever-more electrical power. Projections show that global electricity consumption by data centers could more than double to around 945 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2030 as digital services expand, setting data center energy use on a steep upward trajectory.
AMPERA is a company designing modular micro-nuclear reactors intended to provide scalable, reliable energy for large industrial loads, data centers, remote facilities, and other power-intensive environments. According to Brian Matthews, founder and CEO of AMPERA, the company's approach centers on sealed, sub-critical reactors, with cores 3D-printed from silicon carbide, that use thorium and advanced hybrid fusion-fission processes. "AI and data centers are no longer constrained by computers or software; they're constrained by power. The companies that solve energy at scale will define the next decade of digital growth," Matthews says. "AMPERA is not a traditional nuclear company. We are building modular, factory-produced energy systems designed for rapid deployment, decades-long operation, and zero emissions."
According to Matthews, AMPERA's mission is to design energy platforms that operators of large facilities can deploy close to where power is consumed. "The grid was never designed to support always-on, hyperscale AI infrastructure. AMPERA is building clean, reliable power systems that go directly to the load without waiting years for grid upgrades," he explains. "The future of data centers depends on predictable, sovereign power. You can't run AI at scale on intermittent energy or fragile regional grids."
In the United States alone, data centers already accounted for approximately 4% of total electricity use in 2024, with projections suggesting that share could more than double later in the decade as demand scales. This rising demand raises questions about how existing electrical grids will keep pace and how companies will secure reliable, continuous power.
Jacques Bories, AMPERA's Chief Financial Officer, points out that this challenge is more than a technical issue. "This next-generation technology delivers capital efficiency, low operating costs, and predictable long-term asset performance for data centers, defense, and marine applications," Bories says. From his view, scalable micro-nuclear solutions offer a complementary pathway to strengthen energy supply without placing disproportionate strain on traditional grids.
Bories notes that the traditional baseload energy sources have often relied on extensive infrastructure and long construction timelines, which can be misaligned with the rapid growth cycles of the digital economy. Nuclear energy, with its capacity for continuous 24/7 generation, inherently supports reliability targets that are critical for data centers, where even brief outages can have significant operational and financial impacts.
"Our technology offers 30 years of low-cost baseload clean electric power," Bories explains. "For commercial customers, we provide a capital-efficient, turn-key solution through PPA contracts, which eliminates up-front costs, provides reliable power throughout the lifecycle of the unit, and allows them to focus on their core business." He adds that these systems are envisioned to be deployable in modular form, where multiple units can be integrated to scale capacity according to specific power profiles.
From an investor's perspective, Matthews notes that the market opportunity stems from the convergence of digital demand and the need for resilient infrastructure. "As digital services expand and data volumes grow, the energy landscape must evolve to support this scaling without compromising reliability, sustainability, or cost efficiency," he explains. "What we are building is a platform for enabling growth in sectors where adequate energy is essential to innovation."
The broader energy transition has increasingly brought nuclear energy into conversations about long-term grid stability and lower-carbon power systems. "In many markets, nuclear already contributes a meaningful portion of electricity generation, and its steady output profile is often discussed as one way to help support rising power demand," Matthews says. He adds that while renewables, conventional generation, and other energy sources will continue to play important roles, modular nuclear technologies are being explored for situations where consistent, localized power delivery is especially important.
In this environment, the emergence of scalable nuclear approaches like those AMPERA is developing represents a forward-looking response to the intersecting trends of digital expansion and energy demand. By prioritizing safety, reliability, and modular scalability, the company frames its work as part of a larger conversation about how societies power the digital age, and do so in ways that aim to support economic vitality and resilience.
As global demand for digital infrastructure continues to rise, the conversation around energy is increasingly shifting from short-term capacity to long-term resilience, Matthews notes. For companies, policymakers, and investors alike, the challenge is not simply producing more power but building systems that can sustain growth without compromising reliability or security.
Matthews believes the next decade will be defined by how effectively the energy sector adapts to these pressures. "The question isn't whether energy demand will keep rising; that's already happening," he says. "What matters now is deploying clean power fast enough to keep up with AI-driven growth."
