Context:
The Department of Atomic Energy has inaugurated the world’s first hydrogen production facility using the Copper–Chlorine thermochemical cycle and nuclear heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at Kalpakkam. It marks a major step in linking advanced nuclear energy with clean hydrogen production.
Explanation:
- Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier that can support decarbonisation in industry, transport and energy storage.
- Conventional hydrogen production often depends on fossil fuels, while green/clean hydrogen aims to reduce carbon emissions.
- The Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle uses heat-driven chemical reactions to split water and produce hydrogen.
- It is considered promising because it works at relatively lower temperatures compared to some other thermochemical cycles.
- Nuclear process heat can provide reliable, carbon-free heat for hydrogen production.
- The facility uses heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at IGCAR, Kalpakkam.
- Fast breeder reactors produce more fissile material than they consume and are central to India’s three-stage nuclear programme.
- BARC developed the indigenous Cu–Cl hydrogen technology, while IGCAR leads fast breeder reactor research.
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Copper–Chlorine Cycle and Nuclear Hydrogen