EDF is seeking commercial partners to help develop two projects aimed at demonstrating the potential to use waste heat from nuclear generation to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production and the direct capture of carbon dioxide from atmosphere.
It hopes the pilots will prove the case for the construction of permanent large-scale facilities connected to its proposed Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk, which would together form a new low-carbon energy hub.
EDF has today (23 November) issued two requests for expressions of interest, the first looking for partners to supply an electrolyser capable of producing up to 800 kilograms of hydrogen per day and also to provide hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and project management.
The hydrogen will be used to fuel vehicles and equipment used in the construction of Sizewell C. The company said the hydrogen could also be supplied to local authorities, nearby ports and industry and local transport and has asked for potential consumers to express their interest too.
The second request is for companies to design, project manage and provide the technology for, a direct air capture plant that would be operated using the simulated heat from a nuclear power station. EDF said diverting a small amount of the plant’s thermal output could enable Sizewell C to become carbon negative.
Julia Pyke, director of finance and regulation for Sizewell C, said: “Sizewell C will supply around 6 million British homes with always-on low carbon power, but it has enormous potential to do much more in support of our net zero future.
“By using spare heat to enable some of the other low carbon technologies needed alongside nuclear, Sizewell C will become a flexible energy hub and provide even greater value for energy users.”