India switches on the world's first nuclear-powered Cu–Cl hydrogen plant at Kalpakkam

The Department of Atomic Energy has inaugurated the world's first hydrogen plant using the Copper–Chlorine thermochemical cycle driven by heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor — an indigenous BARC breakthrough opening a route to large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen from nuclear heat.

What happened

• The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the world's first Hydrogen Production Facility based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Thermochemical Cycle, using nuclear process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at IGCAR, Kalpakkam.
• It was inaugurated by Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, DAE and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), with IGCAR Director Shri Sreekumar G. Pillai.
• The facility is a technology demonstrator validating hydrogen production via the Cu–Cl process developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai.
• By integrating nuclear process heat with hydrogen generation, it opens a pathway for large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen production using advanced nuclear reactors — the Cu–Cl cycle being favoured for its lower operating temperatures and higher thermodynamic efficiency.
• Built jointly by BARC and IGCAR, the plant will provide operational experience to optimise the process and scale up nuclear-assisted hydrogen production.

For Prelims

• Thermochemical hydrogen / Cu–Cl cycle: A method that uses heat (not electricity) plus chemical reactions to split water into hydrogen and oxygen; the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) cycle works at relatively lower temperatures and higher efficiency than rival cycles — ideal for pairing with reactor heat.
• 'Pink/red' hydrogen: Hydrogen produced using nuclear energy is termed pink (or red) hydrogen — carbon-free, distinct from green (renewables-electrolysis), grey (fossil) and blue (fossil + carbon capture).
• FBTR & IGCAR: The Fast Breeder Test Reactor (operational since 1985) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam (estd 1971) — the hub of India's fast-reactor programme; FBTR provides the high-temperature process heat.
• Three-stage nuclear programme: India's Bhabha plan — Stage 1 (PHWRs, natural uranium), Stage 2 (Fast Breeder Reactors using plutonium, breeding U-233 from thorium), Stage 3 (thorium-U-233 reactors). Fast reactors (FBTR, PFBR) are Stage 2.
• BARC & AEC: The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is India's premier nuclear R&D body; the Atomic Energy Commission is the apex policy body under the DAE.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023): India's flagship to make it a global hub for hydrogen; nuclear-assisted (pink) hydrogen adds a carbon-free production route alongside green hydrogen.
• Don't confuse: Thermochemical (heat-driven) water splitting is distinct from electrolysis (electricity-driven); nuclear-derived hydrogen ('pink') is distinct from renewables-derived 'green' hydrogen.

For Mains

Syllabus: GS3.12 · GS3.9 · Linkage L2