Nuclear consultancy Equilibrion has been appointed by Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities to carry out a study into how nuclear-enabled hydrogen could solve the UK’s net zero energy challenge.
The study will explore how deployment of nuclear-enabled hydrogen production could help repurpose the UK’s existing extensive gas network for low carbon hydrogen, with the “SHyNE project” to see the development of a deployment roadmap for capacity introduction to meet user demand. This will look at estimated production rates, a geographical analysis that considers potential nuclear new-build sites against the backdrop of existing infrastructure, customer demand centres and a techno-economic analysis.
SHyNE will also look to investigate how improved siting flexibility and financing methods for reactors can accelerate nuclear deployment, supporting an energy transition and cutting costs for consumer, and see how a nuclear power station that is twinned with electrolytic hydrogen production could provide flexible electricity output to help balance the grid.
Allan Simpson, Chief Technologist at Equilibrion, said: “Nuclear-enabled hydrogen represents a powerful, yet largely untapped, opportunity to drive the UK’s journey to Net Zero at a significant scale and for the first time both the nuclear and hydrogen sectors can fully appreciate how working together can be a game-changer to the availability of low-cost electrolytic hydrogen and expand opportunities for organisations in both sectors.”
