India launches world’s first nuclear process heat-based hydrogen production facility

In Tamil Nadu, India launched World's first nuclear heat-based hydrogen production facility at Kalpakkam. Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Ajit Kumar Mohanty has inaugurated this facility based on the Copper-Chlorine (Cu-Cl) Thermochemical Cycle utilizing nuclear process heat generated from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam on Friday, June, 26, 2026. Addressing the gathering, Dr Mohanty said that the integration of nuclear energy with emerging clean energy technologies, such as hydrogen production represents a strategic pathway towards a sustainable energy future. He said that nuclear power with its unique ability to provide reliable carbon-free electricity is ideally suited to support large-scale hydrogen production while contributing to India’s energy security, decarbonisation goals and long-term sustainable development objectives.  
The facility has been established as a technology demonstrator to validate the production of hydrogen using nuclear energy through the Cu-Cl thermochemical process developed indigenously by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai. Department of Atomic Energy said that the commissioning of the facility represents the culmination of extensive research, process development, engineering design, equipment fabrication, installation, testing and commissioning efforts undertaken jointly by BARC and IGCAR.