Nuclear and Hydrogen

Nuclear power is the only viable route to the hydrogen economy. High Temperature reactors exist which can split hydrogen directly from water at an efficiency three times that of conventional electrolysis. Reactors which produce electricity for the grid during the peak demand period could switch to hydrogen production during the off peak.

Hydrogen which is the most abundant element in the universe is the main constituent of oil and gas. It has been described as the wonder fuel because it has three times the energy content of oil for the same weight, yet when it is burned it produces no CO2 or other pollutants, only water.
Unfortunately hydrogen is not freely available, so it must be generated from hydrogen containing compounds such as water or methane. Water is the preferred source of hydrogen as it's supply is limitless. Storage of hydrogen is difficult because of its low density making its containers both bulky and heavy.
Despite its storage shortcomings hydrogen is the most promising transport replacement fuel for oil. Liquid hydrogen is the perfect fuel for aircraft because of its energy density which is almost three times that of aviation fuel. Thus the weight of hydrogen fuel would be a third of that of kerosene which is important if it must be carried into the air. Passenger plane designs, have been available since the fifties (when prototypes were flown). It is also possible to fuel cars with hydrogen using fuel cells or conventional engines, but on board storage is more of a challenge.
A number of factors have limited the use of hydrogen as a fuel, such as the storage problem and the fear of explosion associated with the Hindenberg disaster. But the main factor, is that fossil fuels have been so inexpensive that any attempt to develop hydrogen as a transport fuel was doomed.

Cost of Nuclear Hydrogen

The economics of thermo chemical hydrogen production look good. General Atomics projects US$ 1.53/kg based on a 2400 MWt HTGR operating at 850°C.with 42% overall efficiency, and $1.42/kg at 950°C and 52% efficiency (both 10.5% discount rate). At 2003 prices, steam reforming of natural gas yields hydrogen at US$ 1.40/kg, and sequestration of the CO 2 would push this to $1.60/kg. Such a plant could produce 800 tonnes of hydrogen per day, "enough for 1.5 million fuel cell cars" (@1 t/day for 1800 cars).
Based on an aircraft design study in 1974 by Daniel G. Brewer of Lockheed, the cost of liquid hydrogen versus kerosene fuel for a 400 seater 10200kM range airliner is:

Based on the above figures we could cost effectively fuel our planes using nuclear produced hydrogen. The technology to do this is available today. Not only is nuclear hydrogen cost competitive, it produces no carbon and only a fraction of the NOx of conventional planes.
As an island nation we need keep our aircraft flying, Shannon airport could lead the world in the early adoption of hydrogen fuelled aircraft. All this can only happen if Ireland adopts nuclear power.

For more information please follow links to nuclear/hydrogen and hydrogen technology web sites:
Hydrogen Association
Hydrogen Transport
Nuclear Hydrogen

Hydrogen Aircraft Designs for hydrogen power aircraft have existed since the fifties but because of cost, development of a working prototype was not realised. The Russians flew a Tupolev Tu 155 on hydrogen in 1988. Below are details of a recent European programme. With the return of large scale nuclear, hydrogen powered flight will come sooner rather than later because using today's technology we can produce liquid hydrogen (LH2) for less than the cost of kerosene. Read more at: Cryoplane