Updated analysis has found that the recently announced 25% increase in power output of a NuScale small modular reactor means one 77-MW module is capable of producing 2,053 kg/hour of hydrogen, or nearly 50 tonnes a day.
This is an increase from 1,667 kg/hour of hydrogen, or 40 tonnes per day for a a module before the recent increase in power output.
As a result of the lower levelised cost of electricity from the increased power output, hydrogen produced by a NuScale high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) system is forecast to be cost competitive with high capacity factor renewable hydrogen cost estimates while also providing continuous, controlled hydrogen production.
This is an increase from 1,667 kg/hour of hydrogen, or 40 tonnes per day for a a module before the recent increase in power output.
As a result of the lower levelised cost of electricity from the increased power output, hydrogen produced by a NuScale high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) system is forecast to be cost competitive with high capacity factor renewable hydrogen cost estimates while also providing continuous, controlled hydrogen production.
NuScale said the 25% power increase would see the overnight capital cost of its SMR technology fall on a per kilowatt basis from an expected $3,600 to approximately $2,850. The 25% increase in power means a 12-module plant will now approach a size, 924 MW, that makes it a competitor for the gigawatt-size market.
NuScale Power announced the updated evaluations following its recent announcement that a single SMR module can generate an additional 25% power for a total of 77 MW per module (gross), resulting in about 924 MW for a flagship 12-module power plant.
The hydrogen study was originally conducted in 2014 with the Idaho National Laboratory and has been updated with the new production and economic parameters.
