US DOE awards $14 million for hydrogen production at Prairie Island nuclear plant

• 4 years ago (2020-11-12)
• David Flin

North America 1021 Nuclear 659

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The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $14 million to help build a hydrogen energy production facility at Xcel Energy’s Prairie Island nuclear power plant in Minnesota, USA. Xcel Energy and Idaho National Laboratory will work on developing the facility.

The project is part of the DOE’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using nuclear power to generate carbon-free energy.

Xcel Energy officials said they have a large amount of wind-generated energy they supply to customers, and that Prairie Island could make hydrogen when wind energy meets customer demand. Officials said the hydrogen would initially be used at the power plant but could ultimately be sold to other industries.

Xcel Energy has a goal of being 100 per cent carbon-free by 2050.

Hydrogen production at Prairie Island will use high-temperature steam electrolysis. Idaho National Laboratory will help with technical aspects of the project. The DOE said it hopes the result will be a functioning hydrogen plant capable of operating as a hybrid system that can also test electrolysis technologies.

Richard Boardman, Laboratory Relationship Manager for Idaho National Laboratory, said: “This is a game-changer for both nuclear energy and carbon-free hydrogen production for numerous industries. It offers a view of the energy structures of the future, which will integrate systems to maximise energy use, generator profitability, and grid reliability, all while minimising carbon emissions.”