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In a landmark moment for India’s clean energy journey, the Department of Atomic Energy inaugurated the world’s first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine thermochemical cycle using nuclear process heat, at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, on 26 June 2026. The achievement places India at the vanguard of next-generation hydrogen technology, demonstrating that nuclear energy can serve purposes far beyond electricity generation.
A Technology Built from Within
At the heart of this milestone lies an entirely indigenous innovation. The Copper–Chlorine thermochemical process was conceived and developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai, while its integration with the Fast Breeder Test Reactor was executed by IGCAR’s own scientific teams. Rather than relying on conventional electrolysis, which demands significant electrical input, the Cu–Cl cycle drives a sequence of chemical reactions using heat alone — with water as the primary input and hydrogen and oxygen as the outputs. The elimination of electricity as the primary driver translates into markedly higher thermodynamic efficiency and a substantially lower carbon footprint.
Four Decades of Expertise, One Historic Outcome
IGCAR’s contribution to this achievement cannot be overstated. Since its establishment in 1971, the centre has accumulated internationally recognised capabilities across reactor physics, advanced materials, sodium technology and thermal hydraulics. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor, India’s only operating fast reactor research facility, has served as the technological backbone of the country’s fast reactor programme for over four decades. It is this deep institutional knowledge that made the seamless integration of hydrogen production with live reactor operations possible.
A Strategic Expansion of India’s Nuclear Vision
The inauguration carries significance well beyond scientific achievement. India’s three stage nuclear programme, long focused on fuel breeding and electricity generation, has now demonstrably expanded into clean fuel production. Nuclear reactors, capable of delivering both reliable baseload power and continuous high temperature process heat, are uniquely positioned to anchor large scale hydrogen economies. This facility, currently functioning as a technology demonstrator, will generate the operational data necessary to inform future commercial scale deployment.
Looking Ahead
As India advances toward its clean energy commitments, the convergence of its nuclear expertise with hydrogen technology offers a compelling and credible pathway. Kalpakkam has long been synonymous with India’s atomic ambitions — it is now equally a symbol of its clean energy future.
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