Clean energy on the march: Rosatom intends to build a nuclear reactor to produce hydrogen from methane by 2032

State corporation ROSATOM has announced its intention to build and launch a high-temperature nuclear reactor to produce hydrogen from methane using steam, according to a statement by ROSATOM spokesman Myron Borgulev at the Technoprom-2022 forum in Novosibirsk.

According to the official of the state corporation, the installation will involve a new type of reactor with helium cooling instead of water cooling. This will make it possible to create steam at a very high temperature — 750-850 degrees Celsius. Rosatom is working on new materials that will make it possible to bring the steam temperature up to 1,100 °C.

Myron Borgulev called the future reactor Rosatom’s main hydrogen energy project. He specified that converting methane to hydrogen using steam would not require burning a significant portion of the gas to obtain the required temperatures. This will reduce the burden on the environment in the form of carbon footprint.

The technology to produce hydrogen from natural gas will also be developed for the plant.

Rosatom expects to launch a nuclear power plant based on a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in 2030-2032.

Now there are several basic methods of industrial production of hydrogen from various raw materials — hydrocarbon fuels, waste, ethanol, biomass, water and so on. Hydrogen production from fossil raw materials is considered to be the most economically profitable, while steam conversion is considered to be the most affordable and cheapest method.

Experts predict that it will be used extensively in the early stages of the transition to a hydrogen economy, when it will be necessary to introduce hydrogen transport and build the infrastructure for it.

In the long term, a switch to renewable energy sources is envisaged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The carbon emissions of the manufacturing sector can be reduced through the use of hydrogen, produced using low-carbon technologies. The carbon capture and storage of carbon dioxide and the electrolysis of water through nuclear, hydro, wind and solar power may be used.

The IX International Forum “Technoprom-2022” was held in Novosibirsk from 23 to 26 August. The event is designed to promote Russian scientific developments and innovations. At the past event, participants discussed nuclear technology, energy, and agricultural, biological and information security.

Cover photo: Rosatom