In a landmark achievement for India's clean energy and nuclear technology sectors, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, inaugurated the world's first Hydrogen Production Facility based on the Copper-Chlorine (Cu-Cl) Thermochemical Cycle. The facility utilizes nuclear process heat generated from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam.
The pioneering facility represents a significant advancement in integrating nuclear energy with hydrogen production, demonstrating India's growing capabilities in developing sustainable and carbon-free energy solutions. The project has been established as a technology demonstrator to validate the production of hydrogen using nuclear process heat through the Cu-Cl thermochemical process, an innovative technology developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty emphasized that the integration of nuclear energy with emerging clean energy technologies such as hydrogen production offers a strategic pathway towards a sustainable energy future. He noted that nuclear power, with its ability to provide reliable, continuous, and carbon-free energy, is ideally suited to support large-scale hydrogen production. According to him, this technology will play a crucial role in strengthening India's energy security, accelerating decarbonisation efforts, and supporting the country's long-term sustainable development goals.
Hydrogen is increasingly being recognized as a clean fuel of the future, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions across industries including transportation, power generation, refining, steel manufacturing, and fertilizers. Conventional hydrogen production largely depends on fossil fuels, resulting in significant carbon emissions. The Cu-Cl thermochemical cycle offers an environmentally friendly alternative by using nuclear heat to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a series of chemical reactions, requiring lower temperatures than many other thermochemical processes and improving overall efficiency.
The commissioning of the facility marks the successful culmination of years of extensive research, process development, engineering design, equipment fabrication, installation, testing, and commissioning carried out jointly by BARC and IGCAR. It showcases the scientific and engineering expertise developed within India's nuclear research ecosystem and demonstrates the country's ability to innovate in advanced energy technologies.
The successful demonstration is expected to pave the way for future commercial-scale nuclear hydrogen production plants, supporting India's National Green Hydrogen Mission and its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. The initiative also reinforces India's position among global leaders in advanced nuclear technology and clean hydrogen research, opening new opportunities for sustainable industrial development and energy independence.
