New Delhi: India on Friday achieved a major milestone in clean energy and advanced nuclear technology with the inauguration of the world’s first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle using nuclear process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam.
The facility was inaugurated by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Secretary and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty in the presence of IGCAR Director Sreekumar G. Pillai.
Developed jointly by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and IGCAR, the facility has been established as a technology demonstrator to validate hydrogen production using the indigenously developed Cu–Cl thermochemical process powered by nuclear energy.
According to the DAE, the successful integration of nuclear process heat with hydrogen generation marks a technological breakthrough and paves the way for large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen production using advanced nuclear reactors.
Hydrogen is considered a key clean energy carrier for the future. Among the various technologies under development globally, the Cu–Cl thermochemical cycle is regarded as one of the most promising because of its lower operating temperatures and higher thermodynamic efficiency. The process also reduces dependence on fossil fuels and eliminates greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional hydrogen production.
The department said the commissioning of the facility followed years of joint research, engineering design, equipment fabrication, installation, testing, and process development by BARC and IGCAR.
The plant is expected to provide operational experience, help optimise the Cu–Cl process, and support future research for commercial-scale deployment of nuclear-assisted hydrogen production, according to an official statement.
Addressing the event, Mohanty said integrating nuclear energy with hydrogen production offers a strategic pathway towards a sustainable energy future.
He said nuclear power can provide both carbon-free electricity and high-temperature process heat required for large-scale hydrogen production, while strengthening India’s energy security, decarbonisation efforts, and long-term sustainable development goals.
He also congratulated the scientists, engineers, and technical teams of BARC and IGCAR for transforming an advanced scientific concept into an operational reality, saying the achievement reflected India’s growing capabilities in advanced nuclear technologies and clean energy systems.
Highlighting IGCAR’s role, Pillai said the achievement was built on more than four decades of operational experience gained through the Fast Breeder Test Reactor programme.
He said the successful demonstration showcased the versatility of advanced nuclear systems and reaffirmed IGCAR’s commitment to developing technologies that support India’s clean energy transition and long-term energy security.
Established in 1971 under the DAE, IGCAR has played a key role in India’s fast breeder reactor programme. The centre designed, built, and operated the FBTR, which has supported the development of reactor fuels, materials, and sodium technologies for over four decades.
Its research also laid the foundation for the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, the flagship project of the second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear power programme.
The DAE said the inauguration of the hydrogen production facility is a significant step towards achieving the vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat through indigenous innovation and the integration of nuclear energy with clean hydrogen technologies, while supporting the country’s long-term low-carbon energy goals.
