Dive Brief:
The U.S. Department of Energy on Wednesday highlighted plans to fund projects at four nuclear plants to demonstrate the clean production of hydrogen.
Developing a robust and cost-efficient hydrogen market is seen by the utility sector and others as key to meeting goals for zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Partners include Constellation Energy, Energy Harbor, Bloom Energy, Xcel Energy and Arizona Public Service.
Dive Insight:
DOE estimates that a single 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactor could produce up to 150,000 tons of hydrogen each year.
That hydrogen could be used in fuel cells to produce electricity, but the production process everywhere is costly and yet to be demonstrated at scale.
DOE and the power sector anticipate that hydrogen could displace natural gas as the nation attempts to transition to 100% clean…