DAE Unveils World’s First Nuclear Heat-Driven Hydrogen Production Plant.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has commissioned what it describes as the world’s first hydrogen production facility based on the copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) thermochemical cycle, using heat generated from a nuclear reactor.

The pilot facility was inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam and uses process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) to produce hydrogen through a thermochemical process developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

The facility marks a step forward in nuclear-assisted clean hydrogen production, as the Cu-Cl cycle uses high-temperature heat from a nuclear reactor to split water into hydrogen and oxygen without relying on fossil fuels. Unlike conventional hydrogen production methods that largely depend on natural gas, the process can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The copper-chlorine cycle is considered a promising thermochemical pathway for hydrogen generation due to its relatively lower operating temperatures compared with several other thermochemical processes, while maintaining high efficiency potential. The DAE said the facility will support research and development efforts towards large-scale clean hydrogen production using nuclear energy.