With plans of engaging policymakers, businesses, investors and other key stakeholders, the NHI sets out to raise awareness of the role nuclear hydrogen can play in delivery carbon-free, secure and affordable energy.

As efforts to produce hydrogen at scale ramp up, the NHI believes that the nuclear generated hydrogen pathway offers benefits including that it is space-efficient, dense, and firm, with the ability to provide clean energy at scale constantly.

Read more: Nuclear energy plants could help accelerate hydrogen adoption with reduced costs

To encourage nuclear produced hydrogen, the intends to facilitate the development of nuclear hydrogen demonstrations, engage the financial sector, catalyse commercial partnerships, and advocate for policies to support its deployment.

Elina Teplinksy, Partner and Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen Expert at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, said, “Hydrogen has an important role to play in a decarbonised global energy system, and we can unlock massive opportunities to quickly scale it by leveraging nuclear energy.

“But there is much work to be done to engender policy support, foster commercial partnerships, address technical issues, and craft financing models for nuclear hydrogen projects. The Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative helps bring together stakeholders from across the nuclear energy and hydrogen value chains, as well as environmental organisations, academics and governments to address these issues.”

In addition to the launch of the initiative, the NHI published its first report, Hydrogen Production from Carbon-Free Nuclear Energy: Overview of Current Policies and Recommendation for Government Actions.

 Providing a summary of the policy landscape for nuclear hydrogen globally, the report notes significant government momentum to advance hydrogen as a climate solution, finding that 26 countries and the European Union have issued hydrogen roadmaps or strategies.

Carlos Leipner, Director of Global Nuclear Energy Strategy at Clean Air Task Force, commented, “As a global NGO focused on pursuing all promising decarbonisation pathways, Clean Air Task Force is proud to join the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative, helping highlight the important role nuclear energy can play in supplying the world with low-emission hydrogen.

“We know we need more energy options on the table, not fewer, and are committed to advancing nuclear hydrogen as part of an expanded suite of climate solutions.”

Colleen Wright, Vice-President of Corporate Strategy for Constellation, added, “We envision our nuclear plants becoming versatile clean energy centres that not only generate 24/7 carbon-free electricity for the grid, but also bring together clean hydrogen, renewables and other new and emerging technologies to power every corner of our economy,

“Climate experts agree we can’t fully solve the climate crisis without abundant sources of hydrogen, and nuclear energy remains the most efficient and economical way to produce it on the scale we need.”

The NHI has said it is accepting new participants and is coordinating new working groups, focusing on policy; financing; technology, research and development and licensing; markets and commercial partnerships; and communications.