Using electricity from today’s nuclear reactors shows potential for production of hydrogen without emitting greenhouse gases. Hydrogen is a key component of our energy future, and developing this clean source through our nuclear reactors will help reduce America’s dependence on foreign sources of energy.

—Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman

The feasibility studies are activities within DOE’s Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (NHI), developed in conjunction with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2007, the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 budget will fund the NHI as a component of the AEI.

The FY 2007 budget requests $19 million for the NHI to perform hydrogen production research, as well as $2.1 billion for the AEI—a 22% increase.

The department proposes to partner with industry on the feasibility studies on hydrogen production using small-scale equipment at existing commercial nuclear reactors for up to three years to examine the economic implications of producing hydrogen in this way, the environmental effects, and the regulatory requirements. This activity helps advance the goals for production of hydrogen using nuclear power, which were expressed in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Applicants must be US companies who will conduct the feasibility study activities in the US. The applicants should be the primary representatives of a project team and must include a nuclear utility company. Proposals from the prospective participants are due June 5, 2006.

Resources:

• Feasibility Study of Hydrogen Production at Existing Nuclear Power Plants