Role of Nuclear Energy in Achieving Türkiye's Green Hydrogen Goals
As global industries strive for net-zero emissions, green hydrogen has emerged as a pivotal solution for decarbonizing various sectors. Türkiye, with its aspiring clean energy goals, is positioning itself as a significant player in the global hydrogen economy. While renewable energy sources such as wind and solar have traditionally dominated discussions around green hydrogen production, the role of nuclear energy must not be overlooked. Nuclear-powered hydrogen production offers a stable, scalable, and low-carbon solution that aligns seamlessly with Türkiye's long-term energy strategy, including its target to achieve 20 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2050.
The Growing Global Hydrogen Demand
In 2022, global hydrogen demand reached 95 million tonnes (Mt), a figure projected to surge to 155 Mt by 2030, largely driven by industrial, refining, and transportation sectors. However, the current hydrogen production process is responsible for nearly 900 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, underscoring the urgent need for cleaner hydrogen production methods. Low-emission hydrogen, particularly green hydrogen, remains in its infancy, accounting for less than 1 Mt in 2022 and merely 0.7% of global production.
Countries such as Germany, China, and various EU members have embraced hydrogen production through renewable sources, yet nuclear energy offers a compelling alternative. Its ability to produce hydrogen without the intermittency issues associated with renewables positions it as a strong contender for scaling up green hydrogen production. For Türkiye to secure a stake in this burgeoning market, integrating nuclear energy into its hydrogen production framework is essential.
Türkiye’s Hydrogen Targets: TENMAK's Vision
The Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mining Research Institute (TENMAK) has set an agenda for advancing green hydrogen and associated electrolyzer technology from 2023 to 2053. This initiative begins with a 500 kW electrolyzer in 2023, progressing towards a goal of a 500 MW to 1 GW electrolyzer by 2053. As part of this journey, TENMAK plans to develop domestic biomass gasification demo systems, biogas pyrolysis systems, and advanced biological/microbial hydrogen production technologies, alongside innovative bioreactor designs. These initiatives aim for substantial hydrogen production, exceeding 15m³ H2/day with reactors designed to exceed 10m³ in capacity.
Complementing its production efforts, TENMAK is committed to developing hydrogen utilization technologies, planning to scale from a 10 kW fuel cell to a 300 kW fuel cell by 2053. These fuel cells will be deployed across various applications, including land vehicles, marine vessels, railways, and aircraft.
In pursuit of sustainable energy, TENMAK has set targets for enhancing the competitiveness and scalability of green hydrogen production. The institute aims to significantly reduce production costs to below USD 2.4/kg H₂ by 2035 and achieve an even more aggressive target of USD 1.2/kg H₂ by 2053. To support these goals, TENMAK envisions substantial electrolyzer growth, targeting 2 GW by 2030, 5 GW by 2035, and an impressive 70 GW by 2053.
Nuclear Power: A Game-Changer for Hydrogen Production
The global hydrogen industry is increasingly acknowledging the strategic importance of nuclear energy. Nuclear power plants, capable of generating both electricity and heat, can facilitate hydrogen production through both low-temperature electrolysis and high-temperature steam electrolysis. Türkiye’s evolving nuclear energy infrastructure is uniquely positioned to support its hydrogen production ambitions.
Central to Türkiye's energy strategy is the integration of nuclear power as a key catalyst for hydrogen production. By 2035, Türkiye aims to establish a nuclear power plant capacity of 7.2 GW, significantly contributing to the targeted 5 GW electrolyzer installed power. This nuclear-driven electrolysis is expected to yield approximately 625,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually, marking a critical milestone in Türkiye's hydrogen production objectives.
To achieve the 5 GW electrolyzer installed power target by 2035, which correlates with the anticipated annual hydrogen production of 625,000 tonnes, Türkiye envisions a nuclear power plant capacity of around 4 GW. Looking further ahead to 2053, with a goal of 70 GW of electrolyzer installed power and hydrogen production reaching 8.75 million tonnes, the projected nuclear power capacity will need to be approximately 56 GW. This strategic integration of nuclear power and hydrogen production showcases Türkiye's forward-thinking approach to addressing the escalating demand for clean hydrogen.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Hydrogen Valleys: Innovative Solutions
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being explored worldwide for their hydrogen production potential and could be deployed in Türkiye to establish "Hydrogen Valleys." These nuclear-powered hubs offer decentralized, clean hydrogen production, making them ideal for meeting both local and regional demand. As Türkiye develops its nuclear power sector, SMRs could become integral to its hydrogen economy, providing a flexible and scalable solution for producing low-carbon hydrogen. In line with this vision, Türkiye aims to achieve 5 GW of power from SMRs by 2050, further solidifying their role in the country's hydrogen and clean energy strategy.
Global Examples of Nuclear Hydrogen Production
According to the Hydrogen Council, there are currently 359 large-scale nuclear hydrogen projects globally, with over 80% concentrated in Europe and Asia. Europe leads the way, hosting 50% of these projects with an anticipated expenditure of $130 billion, while more than 30 nations have explicit nuclear hydrogen programs.
Countries worldwide are increasingly exploring nuclear hydrogen production. In the United States, the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Station has pioneered a low-temperature electrolysis system to generate hydrogen for both energy purposes and cooling processes. Following this initiative, the Davis–Besse Nuclear Power Station in Ohio and the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant in Minnesota are incorporating electrolysis technologies for large-scale hydrogen production.
Additionally, advanced nuclear reactors from companies such as NuScale Power, TerraPower, and X-energy are being designed specifically for hydrogen production. Generation IV reactors, including gas-cooled fast reactors (GFRs), molten salt reactors (MSRs), and very high-temperature gas reactors (VHTRs), are particularly suited for large-scale hydrogen production. These innovative technologies provide Türkiye with a pathway to cost-effective hydrogen production that can meet both domestic and export needs.
Cost-Effective Hydrogen Production
A recent report from the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) emphasizes nuclear power's cost-effectiveness in low-carbon hydrogen production, with some reactors capable of producing hydrogen at below USD 2 per kilogram. Türkiye can leverage its upcoming nuclear power infrastructure to produce hydrogen at a competitive price, potentially lower than that from variable renewable sources. By integrating nuclear power into its hydrogen strategy, Türkiye can offer low-cost, reliable hydrogen to industrial sectors that are challenging to decarbonize. Co-locating nuclear reactors with industrial hydrogen demand centers could further optimize costs, enhancing Türkiye's competitiveness in the global hydrogen market.
Türkiye's green hydrogen future holds significant promise, yet to realize its full potential, nuclear energy must be regarded as a primary contributor. With global hydrogen demand on the rise and the inherent advantages of nuclear energy in providing consistent, large-scale production, Türkiye finds itself at a crucial crossroads.
As advanced nuclear technologies like SMRs become commercially viable, Türkiye has the opportunity to lead in nuclear-powered hydrogen production, setting a precedent for the global community. By linking its nuclear energy infrastructure to hydrogen production, Türkiye can achieve its decarbonization targets while establishing itself as a key player in the global hydrogen supply chain.
