Dutch nuclear development and consulting firm ULC-Energy has partnered with Topsoe and Rolls-Royce SMR to explore hydrogen production utilising small modular reactors (SMRs).
The trio will explore utilising Topsoe’s solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) technology to produce hydrogen using both electricity and heat produced by a Rolls-Royce SMR nuclear power plant do deliver low-cost, carbon-free hydrogen.
Due to SOE taking place at a higher temperature, less electricity is needed, while nuclear power plants operate with base-load power, which is hoped to produce hydrogen at lower cost compared to renewable powered electrolysis.
Speaking to H2 View earlier this year (2023), Elina Teplinsky, Partner and Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen Expert at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw and Pittman, said “[Nuclear] is not dependent on the weather, so it can work 24/7. Nuclear capacity factors around the world are over 90%, and that is better than anything else, including fossil fuels.”
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