India has commissioned the world's first hydrogen production facility that uses nuclear reactor heat instead of electricity. Located at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, the plant uses a Copper-Chlorine thermochemical cycle to split water directly with heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor. This approach bypasses the electricity step, potentially improving efficiency and enabling round-the-clock low-carbon hydrogen production. The project was developed by BARC and IGCAR as a technology demonstrator. Officials say it could help decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like fertilisers, steel, and heavy transport. The plant also expands the role of India's nuclear program beyond electricity generation, supporting the country's long-term decarbonization goals. While the plant is still a demonstrator, it positions India at the leading edge of next-generation hydrogen technology. The success of this method could eventually allow advanced nuclear reactors to produce both power and carbon-free hydrogen, accelerating the shift to a low-emission economy.
