The use of nuclear energy to produce liquid fuels is very economic at this point of time, and whilst the production of hydrogen from nuclear electricity is expensive the cost can be reduced by using high temperature steam from nuclear reactors for high
temperature electrolysis.
Success with ammonia means we will have developed and commercialized, at scale, with viable economics, infrastructure and supply chains, the following new technologies: CCS, SSAS, methane cracking, conventional and high
temperature electrolysis and thermochemical water splitting for hydrogen production, nuclear heat sources and small modular reactors, and solar heat sources and renewable electricity of sufficient reliability to be integrated into high volume must - run industrial processes.
It is technically simple to extract CO2 from air and to catalyze that with hydrogen — perhaps very efficient high
temperature electrolysis using modular nuclear energy.
Current hydrogen production rate is 2 kg per hour from low -
temperature electrolysis.
The technologies include advanced high - and low -
temperature electrolysis as well as photoelectrochemical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting.
Project partners include Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leading the high -
temperature electrolysis pathway, Caltech leading the PEC pathway, and Arizona State University leading the STCH pathway.
Thermal energy in the temperature range of 600 ° — 800 °C is necessary for high -
temperature electrolysis process using solid oxide electrolytic cell (SOEC) and hybrid solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) production.
Water electrolysis cells operated at elevated temperatures (200 ° -600 °C) can overcome the kinetic challenges of low
temperature electrolysis and the degradation challenge of high
temperature electrolysis.
about Electrochemical and Durability Performance Evaluation of High
Temperature Electrolysis Cells and Stacks
Not exact matches
VHTR plants could even produce hydrogen for fuel using high -
temperature steam
electrolysis, which breaks apart the bonds of water molecules; this process is 50 percent more energy - efficient than existing hydrogen production methods.
about Advanced Electrode and Solid Electrolyte Materials for Elevated
Temperature Water
Electrolysis
Proton will lead the project and will provide its expertise in the area of low -
temperature anion exchange membrane (AEM) and proton exchange membrane (PEM)
electrolysis.
The PBCTF is a specialized facility designed to test novel materials such as high
temperature proton exchange membranes and electrocatalysts for the production of H2 through non-conventional
electrolysis systems.
The report presents details on newly developed high -
temperature steam
electrolysis (for hydrogen production) and gas turbine power plant subsystems.
So, if high
temperature reactors (like the Russian BN800, BN1200 and the Chinese HTR) are used to produce the hydrogen instead of using
electrolysis, the cost would come down by perhaps half.
Essentially, the researchers use light at low
temperatures to produce mixed metal - oxide films for the electrodes that are used in the
electrolysis process.
Nuclear energy s special potential is as an abundant source of electricity for
electrolysis and high -
temperature heat for water splitting while the cities sleep.