Nuclear-Hydrogen Integration: A Promising Partnership

Mark Bankhead, Chemical Modeling Team Manager, sheds light on the importance of hydrogen and hydrogen-derived alternative liquid fuels in the UK's journey towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050. He emphasizes the role of nuclear power in enabling this transition, stating that it can be coupled with various hydrogen-producing technologies. To better understand the value of these technologies by the 2030s, a comprehensive model was developed to analyze their techno-economic performance.

Bankhead highlights the competitive advantages of thermochemical hydrogen production when paired with a High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR). He acknowledges that there is still room for optimization in these technologies to fully realize their potential. This recognition underscores the ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of hydrogen production methods.

In a groundbreaking approach to evaluating the economics of these technologies, a sophisticated mathematical model was created to link nuclear power with hydrogen-producing technology. This innovative model allows for the comparison of different scenarios by integrating various hydrogen production methods.

The model was divided into two main components. Firstly, it simulated the physical and chemical processes involved in different hydrogen production technologies, offering a unique way to assess the overall efficiency of these industrial processes. The output of the model was quantified in terms of hydrogen produced per unit of energy supplied. Subsequently, this efficiency metric was integrated into an economic model.

Kate Taylor, a process modeler at NNL, elaborates on the economic aspect of the model, explaining how it determines the selling price of hydrogen. By factoring in the costs associated with constructing and operating a hydrogen plant, as well as the expenses related to supplying electricity and heat, the model provides insights into the economic viability of hydrogen production technologies.