India Launches Nuclear Hydrogen Facility
India has commissioned a nuclear process heat-based hydrogen production facility at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The facility uses the Copper-Chlorine thermochemical cycle and heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor to demonstrate a new pathway for clean hydrogen production.
Nuclear Hydrogen Facility Commissioned At Kalpakkam
The hydrogen production facility was inaugurated by Department of Atomic Energy Secretary and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty. The project marks a key step in India’s efforts to link advanced nuclear technology with clean energy systems.
The facility has been set up as a technology demonstrator to validate hydrogen production using nuclear energy. It is based on the indigenously developed Copper-Chlorine, or Cu-Cl, thermochemical process developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai.
Copper-Chlorine Process For Clean Hydrogen
The Cu-Cl thermochemical cycle is considered significant because it can produce hydrogen at relatively lower operating temperatures compared with several other high-temperature thermochemical methods. The process uses nuclear process heat, reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based hydrogen production methods.
The facility will help researchers study performance, operational safety, process optimisation and the future scalability of nuclear-assisted hydrogen production. It is expected to support India’s broader clean energy and decarbonisation goals.
India’s Clean Energy And Nuclear Technology Push
The commissioning of the plant represents years of research, engineering design, equipment fabrication, installation and testing carried out jointly by BARC and IGCAR.
Officials said integrating nuclear energy with emerging hydrogen technologies can help India build a reliable, carbon-free energy ecosystem. The project is also expected to strengthen India’s long-term energy security strategy by exploring large-scale hydrogen production through advanced nuclear reactors.
