From Chisato Horiuchi in Tokyo, Japan
Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Plant (New York) where Constellation produces hydrogen
Hydrogen produced by the electric power of nuclear power plants has begun to move toward practical use in the United States and Europe. It has the advantages of being able to mass-produce at a relatively low cost by utilizing surplus electricity during times when electricity demand is low, such as at night, and being able to self-sufficient energy. However, there are many concerns and issues such as anti-nuclear sentiment and increased costs due to stricter safety standards. Even discussions have not started in Japan, and they are late.
Lower cost than "green"
Hydrogen is expected to be an energy source in the decarbonization era, but most of the hydrogen on the market is "gray hydrogen" derived from fossil fuels extracted from natural gas. It is cheap, about $ 1 per kilogram, but emits carbon dioxide (CO2) during the manufacturing process.
"Green hydrogen," which is produced by electrolyzing water with electricity generated from renewable energy, does not emit CO2, but it costs $ 5 per kilogram. Until the cost of green hydrogen drops due to the spread of renewable energy, "blue hydrogen", which recovers CO2 emitted during the production process of gray hydrogen, is expected to become the mainstream.
Under these circumstances, the "fourth hydrogen" produced by nuclear power plants is called "yellow hydrogen" or "pink hydrogen", and is expected to be a technology that achieves both low cost and decarbonization. The etymology is yellow cake, which is the raw material for uranium fuel, and atomic pink, which is a type of color. Yoshiro Shibata, chief researcher at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, said, "The cheaper the electricity, the lower the cost of producing hydrogen, so nuclear power plants can be a way to utilize surplus electricity."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that it is $ 2.5 per kilogram, which is slightly higher than blue hydrogen under $ 2. The strength of nuclear power plants, which stably produce a large amount of electricity, lives on. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has set a goal of $ 1 or less within the next 10 years in 2009, and is actively subsidizing it.
Constellation Energy, a major US electric power company, will start producing hydrogen at the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Station (New York) in December with Nell Hydrogen of Norway, which handles hydrogen production equipment. It is planned to be used as a transportation fuel. "Clean hydrogen is an important new fuel," said Dominguez, CEO, aiming to restore nuclear power with decarbonization as a backing.
In the United States, hydrogen production projects have begun at various nuclear power plants, including the Palo Verde nuclear power plant (Arizona) and the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant (Ohio). DOE Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary David Turk, who supports the project, said, "We will produce cheap and clean hydrogen to promote the transition to a carbon-free future," and will promote hydrogen production using nuclear power as a national policy.
In the hydrogen strategy announced in 2009, the British government specified nuclear power as an energy source for producing hydrogen, along with renewable energy. Rolls-Royce is working on the development of the next-generation nuclear power plant, the Small Module Reactor (SMR), which will also be used for hydrogen production.
France is also aggressive. President Emmanuel Macron announced on the 10th that he will build six new nuclear reactors in the country by 1950. Mr. Macron has indicated his intention to utilize hydrogen derived from nuclear power plants as next-generation energy.
French President Emmanuel Macron announces new nuclear power plant (10th, Belfort, eastern France) = Reuters
Russia's state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom will begin producing hydrogen at the Kola nuclear power plant in the western part of the country in 2011. In 2009, the company announced that it would cooperate with the French Electricity Authority (EDF) in hydrogen production using nuclear power.
In anticipation of the transition to a carbon-free society, the Russian government has a plan to grow hydrogen as an export item following natural gas and oil. By 2012, we will create a cluster (aggregation area) for the hydrogen industry and aim to become a major player in the global hydrogen market by 1950. Originally promoting nuclear power by national policy, Rosatom is at the center of two areas: nuclear power and hydrogen.
Russia's state-owned nuclear company Rosatom will continue to produce hydrogen from nuclear power plants in 2011 = Reuters
Russia's state-owned nuclear company Rosatom will continue to produce hydrogen from nuclear power plants in 2011 = Reuters
Repulsion to the return to the nuclear power plant
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that hydrogen consumption will increase to 212 million tons in 30 years, 2.4 times the actual result in 20 years, and 528 million tons in 1950, 6 times the same as the previous year. .. In addition to power generation applications, demand will increase due to decarbonization of transportation and manufacturing industries, and there is a possibility that it will be positioned closer to the current oil and gas.
Demand for hydrogen is expanding for various purposes (hydrogen station in Auxerre, France) = Reuters
Securing hydrogen is likely to be an important issue for energy security. Energy Minister Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia said at an online conference of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January, "We are the cheapest gas producers in the world and new gas fields can be used to produce blue hydrogen. Let's concentrate on it. " As with crude oil and natural gas, they are eager to seize the hydrogen market through price offensives.
Demand for hydrogen is expanding for various purposes (hydrogen station in Auxerre, France) = Reuters
Securing hydrogen is likely to be an important issue for energy security. Energy Minister Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia said at an online conference of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January, "We are the cheapest gas producers in the world and new gas fields can be used to produce blue hydrogen. Let's concentrate on it. " As with crude oil and natural gas, they are eager to seize the hydrogen market through price offensives.
An interim storage facility for decontamination waste in Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture. In the back is TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (January 31)
Looking around the world, it is uncertain whether hydrogen production using nuclear power will proceed smoothly. According to the World Nuclear Association, global nuclear power generation in 20 years was only 2553 terawatt hours, down 4% from the previous year. According to the association, most of the reactors shut down in the last few years are for political reasons, not technical ones.
Some countries have openly opposed the EU's return to nuclear power. Austria's Minister of Climate Change and Energy Gewessler has suggested legal action, saying it is "irresponsible" for the use of nuclear power. Luxembourg and others are also against it. There are many hurdles to overcome for the spread of hydrogen derived from nuclear power plants.
