Cu-Cl process uses high-temperature heat from a nuclear reactor to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has commissioned what it says is the world’s first hydrogen production facility based on the copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) thermochemical cycle using process heat from a nuclear reactor.

The pilot facility, inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, uses heat generated by the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) to produce hydrogen through a thermochemical process developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Unlike conventional hydrogen production, which relies largely on natural gas, the Cu-Cl process uses high-temperature heat from a nuclear reactor to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil fuel-based production. The Cu-Cl cycle is considered one of the more promising thermochemical routes because it operates at lower temperatures than many competing processes while offering relatively high efficiency.

The facility has been set up as a technology demonstrator to validate the process under operating conditions and gather data for scaling up the technology for commercial deployment.

Speaking at the inauguration, DAE Secretary and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty said the integration of nuclear energy with hydrogen production could provide a carbon-free route for manufacturing the fuel while strengthening India’s energy security.

IGCAR Director Sreekumar G Pillai said the project builds on more than four decades of operating experience with the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, which has served as the country’s test bed for fast-reactor technologies. The knowledge gained from FBTR has also contributed to the development of the 500-MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam.

Published on June 26, 2026