(51b) An Overview of the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative

The production of hydrogen for transportation fuels will be an important component of a more secure and environmentally sustainable future energy supply. Achieving this goal requires the development of cost effective and emissions free options for hydrogen production that utilize diverse domestic energy supplies. Hydrogen represents a new mission for nuclear energy that is potentially as large as the current mission of electricity generation. The Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative conducts research on the development of hydrogen production methods suitable for advanced nuclear systems, specifically thermochemical cycles and high temperature electrolysis. High temperature thermochemical cycles have the potential for high efficiencies and scaling to large production levels. Thermally assisted steam electrolysis also has potential for high efficiencies and is particularly suitable for cogeneration plants (hydrogen and electricity). The goal of the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative is to demonstrate the commercial-scale, economically-feasible production of hydrogen using nuclear energy by the year 2020.