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EM2 is an advanced modular reactor expected to produce 265 MW<sub>e</sub> (500 MW<sub>th</sub>) of power with evaporative cooling (240 MW<sub>e</sub> with dry cooling) at a core outlet temperature of {{convert|850|°C|-2}}. The reactor will be fully enclosed in an underground containment structure for 30 years without requiring refueling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.com/advanced-reactors |title=Advanced Reactors |publisher=General Atomics |accessdate = Feb 19, 2018}}</ref> EM2 differs from current reactors in that it does not use water coolant but is instead a [[gas-cooled fast reactor]], which uses [[helium]] as a coolant for an additional level of safety. The reactor uses a composite of [[silicon carbide]] as a fuel cladding material, and [[zirconium]] siliciide as [[neutron reflector]] material. The reactor unit is coupled to a direct-drive helium [[gas turbine]] which in turn drives a generator for the production of electricity.
The nuclear core design is based upon a new conversion technique in which an initial “starter” section of the core provides the [[neutrons]] to convert fertile material (used nuclear fuel, thorium or [[depleted uranium]]) into burnable [[fissile]] fuel.<ref>“With Disposal Uncertain, Waste Burning Reactors Gain Traction – EM2 to Burn LWR Fuel,” Nuclear New Build Monitor, March 15, 2010</ref> First generation EM2 units use enriched uranium starters (approximately 15 percent [[U235]]) to initiate the conversion process.<ref>{{Cite
Substantial amounts of usable fissile material remain in the EM2 core at the end of life. This material can be reused as the starter for a second generation of EM2s, without conventional reprocessing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.com/advanced-reactors |title=Advanced Reactors |publisher=General Atomics |accessdate = Feb 19, 2018}}</ref> There is no separation of individual heavy metals required and no additional [[enriched uranium]] needed. Only [[fission products]] would be removed, which would decay to near-background radiation levels in about 500 years compared to conventional spent fuel, which requires about 10,000 years.<ref>{{Cite
All EM2 heavy metal discharges could be recycled into new EM2 units, effectively closing the [[nuclear fuel cycle]], which minimizes [[nuclear proliferation]] risks and the need for long-term repositories to secure nuclear materials.
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