International Workshop on the Role of Low Carbon Hydrogen for a Net Zero Energy System – Aix-en-Provence, France

A joint international workshop co-organized between International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), IEA Hydrogen TCP and Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) has taken place in Aix Provence from 22nd to 24th of June. This workshop named “International Workshop on the Role of Low Carbon Hydrogen for a Net Zero Energy System” gathered +30 experts from different fields (hydrogen, nuclear) and different specialities (technico-economy, R&D, industries) dealing with nuclear hydrogen production.

The workshop was divided into four sessions, with online and in-person speakers.

1 – The role of low Carbon Hydrogen in decarbonization scenarios – potential markets and economics of low carbon hydrogen production and utilization (all technologies). In this session was discussed the global perspectives on the use of low-carbon hydrogen in transition towards net zero energy systems, the issue of production, whether onsite, i.e., collocated with the power generation unit, as well as on-grid production (for decarbonized electricity grids). The issue of the cost of H2 transport when the site of utilisation is different from the site of production was also discussed.

In first place were presented the regional and global perspectives and inputs:

• The role of hydrogen in the transition to net-zero: status and trends, Jose Miguel BERMUDEZ MENENDEZ, IEA
• How might hydrogen demand and production costs develop in markets across Europe? B. Collie, AURORA Energy Research UK
• WEC Europe Study: Decarbonised hydrogen imports into the European Union: challenges and opportunities, Marco Baroni, Lead Author
• IAEA initiatives to support Member States on nuclear hydrogen, including developing a global roadmap, F. Ganda, IAEA

In second place took place the country presentation:

• Perspectives of Hydrogen Development in Japan, Kazuyuki IMAZATO, NEDO, Japan
• US DOE H2 Programme, Sunita Satyapal, US DOE
• Current Status of Nuclear Hydrogen in Korea, Chan Soo Kim, KAERI
• French H2 Programme, Lionel Prevors, DGEC

In third place, an investment case was presented:

• Clean/Green Hydrogen investment case: Load vs. Costs, Pierre-Germain Marlier (Hy24 / FiveT Hydrogen)

 

2 – Producing H2 current and future H2 technologies – LTE, HTSE, thermochemical cycles. In this session were discussed the different technologies and processes for producing low-carbon hydrogen.

In the first place, a hydrogen production technology was presented:

• Large scale Green H2 production scale up with PEM electrolyser, L. Bertrand (ITM Power, UK)

In the second place, technologies with nuclear power:

• Nuclear HTSE Pilot Project, Daniel Ludwig (Xcel Energy)
• Hybridization of nuclear power plants for high temperature electrolysis, Jean-Francois Dhedin, EDF
• The use of hydrogen produced in nuclear power plants: challenges and opportunities using sea water, Karla Kwiatkowski Lepetitgaland – Eletronuclear, Brazil
• H2 production with Generation IV Reactors, G. Rodriguez (CEA, former Technical Director Generation IV International Forum)
• Status of HTSE technology, Pierre Serre-Combe, CEA-LITEN

 

3 – The economic landscape, business case opportunities for producing low carbon H2 with existing technologies (renewables, nuclear), and business case opportunities for producing low carbon H2 with future technologies (renewables, nuclear). This session discussed the economic landscape, the competitiveness of different hydrogen production technologies, and the business case opportunities for current and future technologies.

In the first place, the economic landscape:

• Low carbon hydrogen for France in the 2030’s: competitive landscape and possible business models, Bertrand Charmaison (CEA I-Tésé)
• The Costs and competitiveness of nuclear-produced hydrogen, L. Mir (OECD/NEA)
• Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative, E. Teplinsky (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP) and Carlos Leipner (Clean Air Task Force)

In second place, business case opportunities for producing low carbon H2 with existing technologies (renewables, nuclear):

• Building the Business Case for Hydrogen Production with Operating Nuclear Power Plants, A. van Heek and Y. Yuasa (IAEA)
• Hydrogen Facility Selection and LTE PEM Financial Practice, Semih Sadi Kılıç (Ministry of Energy, Turkey)
• Model for assessment of economics of Hydrogen Production using Nuclear Energy, Anil Antony, BARC, India

In the third place, business case opportunities for producing low carbon H2 with future technologies (renewables, nuclear):

• Hydrogen Gigafactories: unlocking nuclear energy through refinery-scale hydrogen production, K. Gogan and E. Ingersoll (TerraPraxis)
• John Cockerill approach to combine experience in nuclear and high capacity H2 solutions (electrolysers and gigafactories) to support the decarbonation of industry, Christophe Gaspard and Matthieu Dufour, John Cockerill
• U-Battery Case Study: the role of Advanced Modular Reactors in large scale nuclear hydrogen production, D. Fletcher (URENCO)

 

4 – Communication and policies, investment – including Labelling of green or low C Hydrogen – policy frameworks that can shape future industries

• Emerging fault lines in hydrogen geopolitics, and their consequences, Mika Mered, SciencesPo, (remote)
• EU’s Policies towards low-carbon hydrogen, A. Goicea (FORATOM)
• Hydrogen and Guarantee of Origin mechanisms, Guy de Reals (Air Liquide)
• Presentation of IEA Hydrogen TCP Nuclear Task Programme, Gilles Rodriguez (CEA)
• Wrap up discussions, conclusions from the workshop, and future work and initiatives

After the sessions, the participants had the opportunity to visit CEA Cadarache. They also attended to a presentation of the CEA Cadarache and of the IRESNE Institute, SMR development coupled with Hydrogen production, and the HYGREEN Project.