Kalpakkam: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has inaugurated the world’s first Hydrogen Production Facility based on the Copper-Chlorine (Cu-Cl) Thermochemical Cycle, utilizing process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. This facility, located at Kalpakkam, was inaugurated by Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the DAE and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, in the presence of IGCAR Director Sreekumar G. Pillai.
According to officials, this plant has been set up as a technology demonstrator. Its objective is to test the process of producing hydrogen from nuclear energy using the Cu–Cl thermochemical process, which was developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The system integrates nuclear process heat from the FBTR with chemical processing to produce hydrogen without the direct use of fossil fuels.
The copper-chlorine thermochemical cycle is considered promising due to its low operating temperature and high efficiency, as it offers a pathway for carbon-free hydrogen production. This commissioning process, jointly developed by BARC and IGCAR, encompasses research, design, fabrication, installation, and testing. It will yield essential operational data to help optimize the process and facilitate large-scale nuclear-based hydrogen production in the future.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ajit Kumar Mohanty stated that nuclear energy can provide reliable electricity and high-temperature process heat, making it suitable for large-scale hydrogen production. He noted that this achievement reflects India’s progress in advanced nuclear and clean energy technologies and credited the teams at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research for this success.
Established in 1971, the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) has been pivotal to India’s fast reactor programme. Its FBTR has facilitated research related to fuel, materials, and sodium technology, thereby aiding the development of the PFBR.
Officials stated that this facility strengthens India’s efforts towards self-reliance in the clean energy sector and helps achieve goals related to energy security, decarbonization, and sustainable development. (PIB)
