Overview
- The Department of Atomic Energy inaugurated the facility at IGCAR in Kalpakkam on Friday, June 26, 2026, and says it is the first plant to feed reactor process heat directly into a hydrogen‑making Cu–Cl thermochemical chain.
- The plant couples the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, a 40 MWt liquid‑sodium‑cooled research reactor, to a Copper–Chlorine cycle developed by BARC to split water using heat rather than relying mainly on electricity.
- The Cu–Cl cycle runs at roughly 450–550°C, a moderate temperature band that matches reactor process heat and reduces the electricity needed compared with conventional electrolysis.
- DAE and IGCAR describe the installation as a technology demonstrator intended to gather operational experience, optimise the process, and support research aimed at eventual commercial scaling rather than to produce hydrogen at industrial volumes today.
- The demonstration builds on four decades of FBTR experience at IGCAR and could help supply low‑carbon hydrogen for hard‑to‑abate industries such as steel and fertiliser production if further engineering and scale‑up prove viable.