HYDROGEN FACT SHEET

Hydrogen Production – Nuclear

Introduction
In todayʼs energy supply system, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, and natural gas
serve as energy carriers. These energy carriers are made by the conversion of primary
energy sources, such as coal, petroleum, underground methane sources, and nuclear
energy, into an energy form that is easily transported and delivered in a usable form
to industrial, commercial, residential, and transportation end-users. The sustainable
energy supply system of the future features electricity and hydrogen as the dominant
energy carriers. Hydrogen would be produced from a very diverse base of primary
energy feedstocks using the resources and processes that are most economical or
consciously preferred. Hydrogen produced from off-peak nuclear generated electric-
ity could play an important role early in the transition to a hydrogen-based energy
economy. During off-peak hours, nuclear plants generate more electricity than is
needed to supply to the grid, and hence electricity is at its cheapest; this excess
electricity can be used to produce hydrogen. In the longer term, advanced nuclear
hydrogen production concepts still under development may offer additional opportu-
nities to meet large-scale hydrogen demands.

Table 1. Production Technology Scorecard

Electrolysis Thermochemical Water Splitting Cycles

Description Electrolysis uses electrical current to split water into Thermochemical water splitting uses a very high tempera-
hydrogen at the cathode (+) and oxygen at the anode (-). ture (approximately 1,000°C) to split water into its
Steam electrolysis (a variation on conventional electrolysis) component parts.
uses heat, instead of electricity, to provide some of the
energy needed to split water, making the process more
energy efficient.

Feedstock Water Water

Energy Electricity produced from nuclear reactors High temperature heat from advanced gas-cooled
or nuclear waste heat nuclear reactors

Other Relatively minor emissions in the nuclear fuel cycle Relatively minor emissions in the nuclear fuel cycle

Challenge Improve hydrogen production efficiencies of current water- Utilize the high-temperature heat from advanced gas-
cooled light water reactors (LWRs) or advanced light water cooled nuclear reactor technology to split water into
reactors (ALWRs). Develop advanced high temperature hydrogen and oxygen.
reactors for high-temperature steam electrolysis.

Status Near- to mid-term Long-term

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Processes for Producing Hydrogen

1
Electrolysis dissociates water There are three key methods for using nuclear
into its separate oxygen and
energy to produce hydrogen: electrolysis, high-tem-
hydrogen parts.
perature steam electrolysis, and thermochemical
2
Current LWRs and ALWRs have water splitting cycles (see “Production Technology
operational temperatures under Scorecard” chart for details). Because a fission reac-
350°C. tion does not burn anything, nuclear power plants do
not release greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon
3
Generation IV designs are still
on the drawing board and will dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides
not be operational before 2020 (NOX), and other harmful emissions. However, the Nuclear Fission – The splitting of atoms
at the earliest. They will tend entire nuclear fuel cycle (uranium mining, transporta- is called fission. In a nuclear plant,
to have closed fuel cycles and atoms of uranium are split creating the
tion, fuel enrichment, fuel processing, power plant
burn the long-lived actinides heat that turns water into steam.
now forming part of spent fuel,
construction, and waste management) does produce
so that fission products are the some GHG. Nuclear power is a proven contributor to energy diversity and security.
only high-level waste. Many
will be fast neutron reactors. The core of a 1,000 megawatt (MW) nuclear reactor contains about 75 tons of
Reactor types suitable for enriched uranium. A coolant, usually water, is pumped through the reactor and carries
thermochemical hydrogen away the heat produced from the nuclear fission. The resulting super-heated steam
production include helium
is used to drive a steam turbine electric generator, producing about 7 billion kilo-
gas-cooled reactors, heavy
metal-cooled reactors such watt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. To maintain efficient nuclear reactor perfor-
as lead-bismuth, and molten mance, one-third of the spent fuel is removed every year and replaced with fresh fuel.
salt-cooled reactors. Helium
gas-cooled reactors have, The current approach for producing hydrogen from nuclear energy employs off-peak
unlike other reactor designs nuclear-generated electricity and existing water electrolysis production technologies.1
that need further development, More efficient techniques, such as thermochemical water splitting cycles and high
demonstrated high temperature
temperature electrolysis using nuclear electricity and waste heat, can be achieved
capabilities. The Japan Atomic
Energy Research Institute is with temperatures in the range of 700-1000°C. These temperatures are too high for
preparing to demonstrate the current light water nuclear reactors (LWRs) or the advanced light water nuclear
production of hydrogen by reactors (ALWRs).2 Generation IV nuclear reactors, currently under development,
using the heat from its High-
will attain sufficiently high temperatures to produce hydrogen from high temperature
Temperature Engineering Test
Reactor (HTTR) initially in steam electrolysis or thermochemical water splitting.3
steam reforming of natural gas,
and later with this iodine-sulfur
thermochemical process. The
Current Status
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The only approach for producing hydrogen from nuclear energy using currently opera-
in the U.S. is also developing
the iodine-sulfur process with a
tional LWRs employs off-peak nuclear-generated electricity and existing water electroly-
view to using high-temperature sis production technologies. In the long-term, high- and ultra-high temperature nuclear
reactors for it. reactors offer two additional hydrogen production pathways from nuclear energy: more
efficient electrolysis using high temperature steam and thermochemical water splitting
to produce hydrogen using nuclear waste heat. Viable thermochemical technologies for
producing hydrogen will require a dedicated research and development effort to develop
appropriate water-splitting chemical process cycles and high-temperature materials.
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The Advantages Electricity

In the U.S. today, there are 103 LWRs situated on 64 sites in 31 different states. Since
Generation Facts
these nuclear reactors account for approximately 20 percent of U.S. electricity needs,
or 780.2 billion kWh, there exists opportunities for domestic hydrogen production from Electricity generated and
consumed is measured in terms
nuclear energy as well as better utilization of off-peak electricity generation. Production of kilowatts-hours (kWh),
of hydrogen from nuclear energy emits no GHG or other emissions. Nuclear generated and the rates that customers
electricity avoids, on average, 155 million metric tons of carbon equivalent, 2.4 million typically pay are dependent on
tons of NOX, and 5.1 million tons of SO2 annually in the U.S. per year that would be when the electricity is used.
Usage and power generation
produced from coal-powered power plants. However, there are carbon emissions from
costs are typically highest
the fuel cycle: mining, transportation, and uranium enrichment. There are also emis- during the Peak generation
sions from power plant construction and waste management. periods, and least during the
Off-Peak. For reference, at the
Uranium, the main fuel for nuclear reactors, is readily available from stable, U.S.- point of use, there are 3,412
friendly countries. In 2002, 16 countries produced over 99 percent of the worldʼs Btu’s per kWh.
uranium. Major suppliers exist in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, with Canadian and
Australian uranium mines today making up over 50 percent of the worldʼs uranium PEAK periods occur when
supply. Compared to natural gas, uranium is low in cost and less sensitive to price demand for electricity is high.
increases. One uranium fuel pellet, about the size of the tip of your little finger, has the (Example: during the day; often
between 8AM and 6PM)
equivalent energy generation potential of 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds
of coal, or 149 gallons of oil.
OFF-PEAK periods occur
Finally, the hydrogen produced by nuclear reactors through electrolysis or thermochem- when demand for electricity is
ical water splitting processes is very pure, especially compared to hydrogen produced low. (Example: at night; often
between 12AM and 6AM.)
via coal or steam methane reforming. Fuel cells require very pure hydrogen, and the
high purity of hydrogen produced from nuclear reactors meets this requirement.
MIXED-PEAK periods occur
in-between Peak and Off-Peak
hours. In some locales there
Challenges are additional divisions in these
categories and demand for elec-
The safety of nuclear reactors in the U.S. has been a very high priority in their design
tricity is low. (Example: at night;
and engineering. About one third of the cost of a typical reactor is attributed to safety often between 12AM and 6AM).
systems and structures. The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was a stark reminder of the
importance of safety. At Chernobyl in Ukraine 30 people were killed (28 by high levels
of radiation) and thousands more injured or adversely affected. This reactor lacked the
basic engineering provisions necessary for licensing in most parts of the world.

The long-term storage of nuclear wastes is a major challenge facing nuclear energy.
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 specifies that radioactive waste will be
disposed of underground in a deep geologic national repository or stored in giant
steel-and-concrete casks. Significant scientific research and development (R&D)
needs to be done to satisfy long-term storage and safety requirements.
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Interested in The siting of new nuclear reactors will present a serious challenge to developers and
Learning More? would include a lengthy approval process. Most U.S. nuclear plant sites were designed
to host four to six reactors and most of these sites have never been fully utilized.
Obtaining approvals for the development of new or existing facilities will represent a
U.S. Department of Energy
significant challenge in the development of nuclear hydrogen production capabilities.
www.eere.energy.gov
/hydrogenandfuelcells

National
Implications for the Transition to a Hydrogen Economy
Hydrogen Association Nuclear energy is a viable, primary energy source that offers the potential for
www.hydrogenassociation.org producing hydrogen through a process that is economical and produces relatively
minor emissions in the nuclear fuel cycle. Together, nuclear energy and hydrogen
U.S. Fuel Cell Council technology offer a potential solution to our energy security needs. A transition to a
www.usfcc.com
hydrogen economy featuring nuclear energy may be one of the more economical
alternatives. In the future, high-temperature reactors will provide the necessary
International
energies to produce large-scale quantities of hydrogen via high-efficiency, high-
Partnership for the
temperature electrolysis or thermochemical water splitting cycles. DOE seeks to
Hydrogen Economy (IPHE)
www.iphe.net develop high- and ultra-high temperature thermochemical technology that produces
hydrogen in the long-term (2015) that is cost competitive with gasoline at refueling
stations or stationary power facilities. Overcoming negative public perception, long-
term storage, safety, and siting issues, and further demonstrations of advanced reactors
are needed to prove that producing hydrogen from nuclear energy processes is a viable
option for the future.

Sources:
• World Nuclear Association. www.world-nuclear.org.

• Ryskamp, Dr. John M. Hydrogen Production from Nuclear Energy. Idaho National Engi-
neering and Environmental Laboratory. April 28, 2003.

• Nuclear Energy Institute. www.nei.org.

• Committee on Alternatives and Strategies for Future Hydrogen Production and Use,
New York State
National Research Council. The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and
Energy Research and R&D Needs. Washington, D.C.: The National Academy Press. 2004.
Development Authority
• The National Energy Policy Development Group. Reliable, Affordable and Environmen-
17 Columbia Circle tally Sound Energy for Americaʼs Future. May 2001.
Albany, NY 12203-6399
• U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology. www.nuclear.gov.
toll free: 1-866-NYSERDA
local: (518) 862-1090 • Energy Information Administration. www.eia.doe.gov.
fax: (518) 862-1091
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. www.nrc.gov.
www.nyserda.org