Technical analysis for optimum hydrogen production using nuclear–renewable hybrid energy system

This paper provides detailed technical analysis of a hybrid energy system (HES) that integrates nuclear and solar energy sources, specifically focusing on optimizing electricity production and hydrogen generation. The study explores the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs), which are designed for flexibility of load following and frequency following modes. In this analysis, high temperature gas cooled SMR (design parameters are taken according to gas turbine high-temperature reactor (GT-HTR)), is thermodynamically coupled with a concentrated solar power (CSP) system, optimize in a way to enhance the performance and efficiency of the overall system. Solar thermal energy from CSP is used to reheat the gas in the second stage of a Brayton cycle, improving efficiency and regulating electricity output. During low-demand periods, surplus energy is diverted to hydrogen production using a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC). In this study, the integration of CSP and hydrogen co-generation significantly improve the efficiency of the HTR with an electrical output of ranging from 225 to 450 MWe, and hydrogen production capacity of up to 130 tonnes/day.