Hydrogen offers significant promise as a future energy technology, particularly for the transportation sector. The use of hydrogen in transportation would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources of petroleum, enhancing our national security.  Nuclear energy has the potential to efficiently produce large quantities of hydrogen without producing greenhouse gases and hence, to play a significant role in hydrogen production.

Nuclear hydrogen production utilizes high-temperature heat from an advanced nuclear system that could be supplied to a hydrogen-producing thermochemical or high-temperature electrolysis plant through an intermediate heat exchanger. Such an arrangement could provide high efficiency and avoid the use of carbon fuels.  Significant research and development (R&D) will be required in order to complete a commercial-scale demonstration. The hydrogen production system and heat transfer components, such as intermediate heat exchangers, will require the evaluation and development of high-temperature, corrosion-resistant materials.

The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) has developed a Nuclear Hydrogen R&D plan, which defines the objectives and goals of the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative and identifies the R&D required to deploy the most promising technologies.  The status of the Nuclear Hydrogen R&D Plan implementation and implications for the future will be explored.