India launches world's first nuclear heat-based hydrogen production facility
India has commissioned the world's first hydrogen production facility using nuclear process heat at Kalpakkam. The demonstrator could pave the way for large-scale carbon-free hydrogen from advanced reactors.
The Department of Atomic Energy on Friday set up the world’s first hydrogen production facility using nuclear process heat at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam, marking a step for India’s clean energy and advanced nuclear technology programme.
The plant has been established as a technology demonstrator to validate hydrogen production using nuclear energy through the Copper-Chlorine thermochemical process developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.
According to an IGCAR release, the successful integration of nuclear process heat with hydrogen generation marks a technological breakthrough and opens a pathway for large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen production using advanced nuclear reactors. Hydrogen is widely regarded as a key energy carrier for the future and is expected to play a pivotal role in the global shift towards clean and sustainable energy systems.
Among hydrogen production technologies being developed worldwide, the Copper-Chlorine thermochemical cycle is considered one of the more promising because of its relatively lower operating temperatures and higher thermodynamic efficiency. By using nuclear heat from fast reactors, the process reduces dependence on fossil fuels and removes greenhouse gas emissions linked to conventional hydrogen production methods.
The commissioning of the facility follows extensive research, process development, engineering design, equipment fabrication, installation, testing and commissioning carried out jointly by BARC and IGCAR. The plant is expected to provide operational experience, help further optimise the Copper-Chlorine process and support future research to scale up nuclear-assisted hydrogen production technologies for commercial deployment.
The facility was inaugurated by Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, in the presence of IGCAR Director Sreekumar G Pillai.
Addressing the gathering, Mohanty said, "The integration of nuclear energy with emerging clean energy technologies such as hydrogen production represents a strategic pathway towards a sustainable energy future.
Nuclear power, with its unique ability to provide reliable carbon-free electricity as well as high-temperature process heat, is ideally suited to support large-scale hydrogen production while contributing to India’s energy security, decarbonisation goals and long-term sustainable development objectives."
The new facility is intended to demonstrate this process and support further work towards wider use of the technology.
The Department of Atomic Energy on Friday set up the world’s first hydrogen production facility using nuclear process heat at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam, marking a step for India’s clean energy and advanced nuclear technology programme.
The plant has been established as a technology demonstrator to validate hydrogen production using nuclear energy through the Copper-Chlorine thermochemical process developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.
According to an IGCAR release, the successful integration of nuclear process heat with hydrogen generation marks a technological breakthrough and opens a pathway for large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen production using advanced nuclear reactors. Hydrogen is widely regarded as a key energy carrier for the future and is expected to play a pivotal role in the global shift towards clean and sustainable energy systems.
Among hydrogen production technologies being developed worldwide, the Copper-Chlorine thermochemical cycle is considered one of the more promising because of its relatively lower operating temperatures and higher thermodynamic efficiency. By using nuclear heat from fast reactors, the process reduces dependence on fossil fuels and removes greenhouse gas emissions linked to conventional hydrogen production methods.
The commissioning of the facility follows extensive research, process development, engineering design, equipment fabrication, installation, testing and commissioning carried out jointly by BARC and IGCAR. The plant is expected to provide operational experience, help further optimise the Copper-Chlorine process and support future research to scale up nuclear-assisted hydrogen production technologies for commercial deployment.
The facility was inaugurated by Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, in the presence of IGCAR Director Sreekumar G Pillai.
Addressing the gathering, Mohanty said, "The integration of nuclear energy with emerging clean energy technologies such as hydrogen production represents a strategic pathway towards a sustainable energy future.
Nuclear power, with its unique ability to provide reliable carbon-free electricity as well as high-temperature process heat, is ideally suited to support large-scale hydrogen production while contributing to India’s energy security, decarbonisation goals and long-term sustainable development objectives."
The new facility is intended to demonstrate this process and support further work towards wider use of the technology.
