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play a vital role in meeting national requirements in this critical domain through the indigenous
production of high-purity deuterated solvents.

The commissioning of the 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell marks a major technological achievement towards
the indigenous industrial-scale production of nuclear-grade sodium, a critical material for India's Fast
Breeder Reactor Programme. Developed through sustained research, engineering excellence and
technological innovation, the facility represents a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in
strategic materials required for the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme, in line
with the national vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

These achievements underscore DAE's continued commitment to technological self-reliance, innovation
and excellence in strategic sectors. The milestones further contribute to India's journey towards Viksit
Bharat through indigenous technological advancement and strategic capability development.

17. DAE Inaugurated World's First Hydrogen Production Facility Based on Copper–Chlorine
Thermochemical Cycle Using Nuclear Heat from Fast Breeder Test Reactor

In a landmark achievement for India's clean energy and advanced nuclear technology programme, the
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the world's first Hydrogen Production Facility based on
the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Thermochemical Cycle utilizing nuclear process heat generated from the Fast
Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam. The
facility was inaugurated by Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, DAE & Chairman, Atomic Energy
Commission (AEC), in the presence of Shri Sreekumar G. Pillai, Director, IGCAR.

The facility has been established as a technology demonstrator to validate the production of hydrogen
using nuclear energy through the Cu–Cl thermochemical process developed indigenously by Bhabha
Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai. The successful integration of nuclear process heat with
hydrogen generation marks a pioneering technological breakthrough and opens a promising pathway for
large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen production using advanced nuclear reactors.

Hydrogen is widely regarded as a key energy carrier for the future and is expected to play a pivotal role in
the global transition towards clean and sustainable energy systems. Among the various hydrogen
production technologies under development worldwide, the Cu–Cl thermochemical cycle is considered
one of the most promising due to its relatively lower operating temperatures and higher thermodynamic
efficiency. By harnessing nuclear heat from fast reactors, the process significantly reduces dependence
on fossil fuels and eliminates greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional hydrogen
production methods.

The commissioning of the facility represents the culmination of extensive research, process development,
engineering design, equipment fabrication, installation, testing and commissioning efforts undertaken
jointly by BARC and IGCAR. The plant will provide valuable operational experience, facilitate further
optimization of the Cu–Cl process and support future research aimed at scaling up nuclear-assisted
hydrogen production technologies for commercial deployment.

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