Westinghouse Electric Company and Bloom Energy Corporation announced that they have entered a Letter of Intent to pursue clean H2 production in the commercial nuclear power market. The companies are teaming to identify and implement clean H2 projects across the nuclear industry.
Westinghouse and Bloom Energy will jointly develop an optimized and large-scale high temperature integrated electrolysis solution for the nuclear industry. With the ability to operate 24/7 and provide high-quality steam input, nuclear plants are well-positioned to utilize electrolyzer technology and produce substantial quantities of clean H2 with minimal disruption to current, ongoing operations.
“Through this collaboration, we are committed to delivering an economical solution for large-scale H2 production in the nuclear industry, which further supports the path to net zero carbon emissions,” said Pam Cowan, Westinghouse President of Americas Operating Plant Services.
“We are proud Westinghouse has turned to Bloom and our solid oxide technology to supercharge the clean H2 economy,” said Rick Beuttel, vice president, H2 business, Bloom Energy. “Solid oxide technology is well suited for nuclear applications, efficiently harnessing steam to further improve the economics of H2 production. High temperature electrolysis is already garnering attention and accolades as a cost-effective and viable solution to create low-cost, clean H2, which is critical to meeting aggressive decarbonization goals.”
Global demand for H2 and its emerging applications is projected to increase tenfold or more by 2050, surpassing the current infrastructure for producing and delivering H2. As H2 usage expands from traditional industrial uses to the fuel of a clean future, the need to produce it in larger quantities and from low- and zero-carbon sources is clear.
The H2 produced in nuclear plants can be utilized to serve many industries such as renewable fuels production, oil and metals refining, ammonia synthesis, mining operations, and mobility in sectors such as heavy trucks, buses, and even air travel. The companies also are well positioned to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s developing H2 hubs.
