World's first copper–chlorine hydrogen plant using nuclear heat inaugurated at IGCAR, Kalpakkam
The Department of Atomic Energy inaugurated the world's first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine thermochemical cycle using nuclear heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at IGCAR, Kalpakkam, on 26 June 2026.
Summary
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the world's first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle using nuclear process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, on 26 June 2026. DAE Secretary and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty inaugurated the facility in the presence of IGCAR Director Sreekumar G. Pillai. The plant is a technology demonstrator for the Cu–Cl process developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, and was built jointly by BARC and IGCAR. IGCAR, established in 1971, designed and operates FBTR, India's only operating fast reactor research facility, whose expertise underpins the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), the flagship of the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 26 June 2026, IGCAR, Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu)
- Process
- Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle
- Heat source
- Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR)
- Process developer
- BARC, Mumbai
- Inaugurated by
- Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary DAE and Chairman AEC
- IGCAR established
- 1971
- Static link
- 500 MWe PFBR: flagship of the second stage of the three-stage programme
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Where was the world's first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine thermochemical cycle using nuclear heat inaugurated on 26 June 2026?
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Correct answer: B — IGCAR, Kalpakkam
The facility was inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam.
The nuclear process heat for the Cu–Cl hydrogen facility inaugurated in June 2026 comes from which reactor?
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Correct answer: D — Fast Breeder Test Reactor
The facility uses nuclear process heat generated from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at IGCAR.
The Copper–Chlorine thermochemical hydrogen production process demonstrated at Kalpakkam in June 2026 was developed indigenously by:
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Correct answer: A — Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
The Cu–Cl thermochemical process was developed indigenously by BARC, Mumbai; the facility was built jointly by BARC and IGCAR.
FBTR expertise at IGCAR laid the foundation for the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). PFBR is the flagship of which stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Second stage
DAE describes the 500 MWe PFBR as the flagship of the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme.