India builds world's first nuclear-powered hydrogen plant at Kalpakkam using indigenous Cu-Cl thermochemical cycle

bizzbuzz.news

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

India has inaugurated the world's first hydrogen production facility powered by nuclear process heat at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The plant uses the Copper-Chlorine thermochemical cycle developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and draws heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. Officials say the technology demonstrator proves that nuclear heat can produce hydrogen at scale without fossil fuels or greenhouse gas emissions. The Cu-Cl cycle operates at lower temperatures than alternative methods while offering higher thermodynamic efficiency. The Department of Atomic Energy calls it a genuine breakthrough for carbon-free hydrogen production using advanced nuclear reactors. The project builds on over 40 years of operational experience from India's Fast Breeder Test Reactor programme. This is a significant step for low-carbon hydrogen production in India. If scaled, nuclear-powered hydrogen could replace fossil-based hydrogen in industrial processes like fertilizer and steel manufacturing. The technology also strengthens India's position in clean energy innovation and energy security.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see nuclear heat used directly for hydrogen instead of just electricity. The Cu-Cl cycle is not new in research but this is the first time anyone has paired it with an actual reactor. The real question is cost per kg compared to electrolysis.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Good point. The article says it is a technology demonstrator so we probably won't get cost numbers for a while. But if the heat is essentially a byproduct from the reactor, the marginal cost could be low. Need to see the thermal efficiency numbers.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Is this only running on the FBTR or is there a plan to scale to the larger PHWRs? The FBTR is a small research reactor. Scaling to commercial hydrogen volumes would need a much bigger heat source. Anyone know the hydrogen output rate in kg per day?

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The article does not give output numbers. Typical FBTR thermal output is around 40 MWth. If the Cu-Cl cycle is around 40-50% efficient, you might get a few tonnes per day. Not huge but enough to prove the concept. The policy angle is whether India will count this as green hydrogen under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Counting it as green hydrogen depends on the definition. Nuclear hydrogen is not renewable but it is carbon-free. The EU has been debating this for months. India might take a pragmatic approach and include it since the goal is actual decarbonisation not just renewable labels.

solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 pts

This is genuinely new. Most hydrogen pilot projects use solar or wind for electrolysis. Using nuclear heat directly skips the electricity conversion losses. If the Cu-Cl cycle works reliably at scale, it could compete with blue hydrogen from natural gas with CCS.