CONTEXT – Nuclear energy can be used to spur ‘pink’ hydrogen generation in India by amending the respected law

CURRENT REGULATIONS AND LIMITATIONS

• Atomic Energy Act, 1962: Restricts private ownership of nuclear plants, with the government having significant control over atomic energy-related activities.
• NPCIL: Allows joint ventures with public sector units but not with private or foreign companies for nuclear projects.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Amendments Needed: Facilitate private investments in the nuclear sector to promote clean power initiatives.
• Joint Ventures: Allow private companies to participate in financing, project development, equipment supply, and electricity sales from nuclear plants.
• Focus on ‘Pink’ Hydrogen: Emphasize the potential of ‘pink’ hydrogen, generated using nuclear energy, as a clean and scalable alternative for hydrogen production.
• Benefits of ‘Pink’ Hydrogen: High capacity factor due to steady baseload profile of nuclear power, potential for large-scale hydrogen production, and reduced carbon footprint compared to other methods.

ROLE OF NUCLEAR POWER IN CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION

• Alternative to Steam-Methane Reforming: Nuclear power offers a promising alternative for hydrogen production without greenhouse gas emissions, supporting clean energy goals.
• Industrial Applications: Heat from nuclear reactors can be utilized for industrial processes, contributing to a diverse and sustainable energy mix.
• Investment Requirements: Significant investments needed for technology development and scaling up nuclear-powered hydrogen production.

COLLABORATIONS AND FUTURE PATHWAYS

• Research and Technology Transfer: Collaboration opportunities for research, technology transfer, and scaling up hydrogen projects, both ‘green’ and ‘pink’.
• Net-Zero Transition: Recognizing the need for multiple pathways, including nuclear power and renewables, in India’s journey towards a net-zero economy.

CONCLUSION

• Urgency for Amendments: Amending the Atomic Energy Act to facilitate private investments is crucial to harness the potential of nuclear power for clean energy initiatives, including ‘pink’ hydrogen generation.
• Holistic Approach: Future collaborations should focus on developing technologies at scale and integrating nuclear power with renewable energy for a sustainable energy transition.

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