NUCLEAR SYNFUELS | SPECIAL REPORT
Above: Hinkley Point is set to be home to a hydrogen demonstration plant Source: EDF Energy
life of existing assets and as a result, we are reducing the amount of raw materials that we are going to need,” says del Barrio.
The nuclear advantage Given one of the key inputs for synfuels is hydrogen, low-carbon routes to hydrogen production are needed if they are to replace fossil fuels. Much of the focus of low- carbon hydrogen to date has been related to renewables such as wind and solar. However, nuclear as a low-carbon energy source is an attractive alternative and has been gaining growing interest. As del Barrio says: “To meet decarbonisation targets, nuclear synthetic fuels are going to be needed if we want to do it in an efficient and economical way. There are some countries and regions where nuclear is still not seen as a part of the decarbonisation solution, my view is it is one of the most relevant parts.” Importantly, del Barrio highlights a number of the key benefits of nuclear-produced hydrogen in relation to that generated by renewables. He emphasises nuclear’s low cost, security of supply, reliability and flexibility. Another key advantage for nuclear over renewables is the absence of
variability. This is crucial for the process side of producing hydrogen. “To achieve cheap hydrogen, we need both low- carbon electricity and electrolysers that run smoothly and for as many hours as possible. Nuclear power plants are the only technology that run 8760 hours per year with minimal downtime for maintenance,” says del Barrio. A recent report by the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA)
also highlights the characteristics of nuclear that favour its use in synfuels production. For instance, nuclear heat output can be used to provide desalination for the clean water required for hydrogen production from electrolysis. In addition, nuclear power can supply the energy needed for direct carbon capture technology and thus can create a closed carbon loop. Given these advantages, together with its energy density and longevity, nuclear is clearly the winner when it comes to the technical aspects of producing hydrogen from low carbon sources. It is also increasingly clear that should nuclear become
established as a key source of synfuels production, the economic opportunities are substantial. According to the NIA, the global market for conventional aviation fuel alone is currently predicted to be $240b by 2026 and the global
Left: Drop in nuclear synfuels could be the cheapest and fastest route to net zero
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