Nuclear Enabled Hydrogen CO-generation: Safety and Regulatory Insight

National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is aiming to demonstrate through a research and development programme that nuclear enabled hydrogen can be used to support future clean energy systems. Demonstrating the safe operation of hydrogen facilities co-generating with a nuclear reactor will be key to enabling the deployment and success of nuclear enabled hydrogen technologies in the future. During the deployment, continuity of supply will be paramount and possibly requires inter-seasonal storage. Co-generation is a means of using a source of energy, in this case a nuclear reactor, to efficiently produce power and thermal energy. Since a great deal of the heat energy is lost to the environment in a power plant making use of wasted energy for other useful output like the production of hydrogen and direct heating would be advantageous to plant economics and energy system flexibility. The civil nuclear industry is regulated around the world. This approach ensures that all the activities related to the production of power from nuclear and the hazards associated with ionising radiation are controlled in a manner which protects workers, members of the public, property and the environment. Nuclear safety assessments follow a rigorous process and are required as part of the Nuclear Site Licence. A fundamental requirement, which is cited in the UK legislation, is that the risks associated with all activities at the licensed site be reduced to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). The principle places a requirement on duty holders to implement measures to reduce risk, where doing so is considered reasonable and proportionate. The inclusion of risks for hazardous materials associated with the hydrogen production facilities need to be considered and this requires harmonisation of two different safety and regulatory governance regimes, which have not previously interacted in this way. The safety demonstration for nuclear facilities is provided through the Safety Case.