AMTEC requires energy input at modest elevated temperatures and thus is easily adapted to any heat source, including radioisotope, concentrated solar power, external combustion, or a nuclear reactor. A solar thermal power conversion system based on an AMTEC could have advantages over other technologies for some applications including (thermal energy storage with phase-change material) and power conversion in a compact unit. The overall system could achieve as high as 14 W/kg with present collector technology and future AMTEC conversion efficiencies. The energy storage system has the potential to batteries, and the temperatures at which the system operates allows long life and reduced radiator size (heat-reject temperature of 600 K). 
NASA investigated AMTEC conversion as a next-generation radioisotope power source for deep-space applications, but the technology was not selected for the next-generation systems.
While space power systems are of intrinsic interest, terrestrial applications could offer large-scale applications for AMTEC systems. At the 25% efficiency projected for the device and projected costs of 350 USD/kW, AMTEC could prove useful for a very wide variety of distributed generation applications including self-powered fans for high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters and recreational vehicle power supplies.