H₂ production has commenced at the nation’s first 1-MW demonstration scale, nuclear-powered clean H₂ production facility at Constellation’s Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant in Oswego, New York, an advancement that will help demonstrate the potential for H₂ to power a clean economy.

When produced at scale, clean H₂ can be used to make next-generation energy for otherwise hard-to-decarbonize industries like aviation, long haul transportation, steelmaking and agriculture. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approved moving forward with construction and installation of an electrolyzer system at Nine Mile Point with an award of $5.8 MM.

“H₂ will be an indispensable tool in solving the climate crisis, and Nine Mile Point is going to show the world that nuclear power is the most efficient and cost-effective way to make it from a carbon-free resource,” said Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation. “In partnership with DOE and others, we see this technology creating a pathway to decarbonizing industries that remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels, while creating clean-energy jobs and strengthening domestic energy security.”

The clean H₂ Generation System operating at Nine Mile Point uses 1.25 MW/hr of zero-carbon energy to produce 560 kg/d of clean H₂, more than enough to meet the plant’s operational H₂ use. It will also help set the stage for possible large-scale deployments at other clean energy centers in Constellation’s fleet that would couple clean H₂ production with storage and other onsite uses.

As part of its broader decarbonization strategy, Constellation is working with public and private entities representing every phase in the H₂ value chain to pursue development of regional H₂ production and distribution hubs and has committed to invest $900 MM through 2025 for commercial clean H₂ production using nuclear energy. This includes participation in the Midwest Alliance for Clean H₂ (MachH₂), Northeast Clean H₂ Hub and Mid-Atlantic H₂ Hub, all of which are exploring projects to develop H₂ infrastructure in collaboration with DOE.

“This accomplishment tangibly demonstrates that our nation’s existing reactor fleet can produce clean H₂ today,” said Dr. Kathryn Huff, assistant secretary for Nuclear Energy, DOE, “DOE is proud to support cost-shared projects like this to deliver affordable clean H₂. The investments we’re starting to make now through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act will even further expand the H₂ market to create new economic and environmental benefits for nuclear energy.”