Nuclear Production of Hydrogen, Fourth Information Exchange ...

SOUTH AFRICA’S NUCLEAR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
South Africa’s nuclear hydrogen production development programme
J.P. van Ravenswaay, F. van Niekerk, R.J. Kriek, E. Blom,
H.M. Krieg, W.M.K. van Niekerk, F. van der Merwe, H.C.M. Vosloo
North-West University (Hydrogen Infrastructure Competence Centre Co-host)
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Abstract
In May 2007 the South African Cabinet approved a National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
R&D and Innovation Strategy. The strategy will focus on research, development and innovation for:
i) wealth creation through high value-added manufacturing and developing platinum group metals
catalysis; ii) building on the existing knowledge in high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR) and
coal gasification Fischer-Tropsch technology, to develop local cost-competitive hydrogen production
solutions; iii) to promote equity and inclusion in the economic benefits from South Africa’s natural
resource base.
As part of the roll-out strategy, the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST)
created three Competence Centres (CC), including a Hydrogen Infrastructure Competence Centre
hosted by the North-West University (NWU) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR). The Hydrogen Infrastructure CC is tasked with developing hydrogen production, storage,
distribution as well as codes and standards programmes within the framework of the DST strategic
objectives to ensure strategic national innovation over the next fifteen years.
One of the focus areas of the Hydrogen Infrastructure CC will be on large scale CO 2 free hydrogen
production through thermochemical water-splitting using nuclear heat from a suitable heat source
such as a HTGR and the subsequent use of the hydrogen in applications such as the coal-to-liquid
process and the steel industry.
This paper will report on the status of the programme for thermochemical water-splitting as well as
the associated projects for component and technology development envisaged in the Hydrogen
Infrastructure CC. The paper will further elaborate on current and future collaboration opportunities
as well as expected outputs and deliverables.
NUCLEAR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN – © OECD/NEA 2010 203