Producing clean hydrogen has always had a problem: it requires huge amounts of clean energy to be truly sustainable. NuScale may have found the ultimate solution with its SMR, literally “Small Modular Reactor,” a mini modular nuclear reactor. The company has developed a simulator that demonstrates how to produce over 200 tons of hydrogen per day using nuclear heat and electricity. A technology that could finally make green hydrogen competitive on an industrial scale.
What does it mean to “simulate” a mini modular nuclear reactor?
First of all, let's get this straight: Jose Reyes, NuScale's chief technology officer, is not talking about a computer game. The simulator installed at the Corvallis site It is an exact replica of how a real small modular reactor coupled with hydrogen production systems would work. Every parameter, every thermal reaction, every electrochemical process is modeled with mathematical precision in real time.
A simulator of this type serves three basic purposes: test operational configurations without risk, train the personnel who will operate these systems and optimize the processes before the actual construction. As the experts at GSE Solutions point out, technological partner of the project, this is not a theoretical experiment but a practical validation of systems that will have to function for decades.
RSOFC cells are a game changer for small modular reactors
The heart of the system is the reversible solid oxide fuel cell (RSOFC), a technology that represents a quantum leap compared to traditional approaches. These cells can operate in two modes: when they receive electricity from the mini modular nuclear reactor, they split water to produce hydrogen; when electricity is needed, they do the reverse process by combining hydrogen and oxygen.
The genius of the NuScale SMR is that it provides both the electricity and the high-temperature heat needed to make water electrolysis ultra-efficient. While a traditional electrolyzer has an efficiency of 70-80%, this integrated system can exceed 90% thanks to the nuclear heat which reduces the energy requirement of the process.
Why 200 Tons of Hydrogen a Day Makes a Difference
Let's talk about concrete numbers. A single NuScale module is 77 megawatts of electricity, approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in May, can power production systems capable of generating over 200 tons of hydrogen per day. For comparison, that’s enough to power about 40.000 hydrogen cars or completely replace fossil fuels in large steel plants.
The competitive advantage of the mini modular nuclear reactor over renewables lies in its production continuity. While solar panels and wind power depend on weather conditions, the nuclear system can produce hydrogen 24 hours a day, 24 days a year. As highlighted by the European Parliament studies on small modular reactors, this stability is crucial for industrial applications that require constant supplies.
Simulator prepares the future of clean energy
But why did NuScale become the first company in the world to fully integrate hydrogen production into a small modular reactor simulator? The answer lies in training. The system is used to train operators and engineers who will have to manage these hybrid systems.
The simulator allows you to test extreme scenarios without risks: what happens if the demand for hydrogen suddenly drops? How does the system behave during maintenance of the RSOFC cells? All questions that thanks to this simulator will find answers even before building the first commercial plant.
Hydrogen from mini nuclear reactor vs. hydrogen from renewables
Yes, someone will say "nuclear is also renewable". I do not agree, as long as there is the issue of waste, you are free to think what you want and to refute what I say as you like, but I do not change my mind. It is not a question of being for or against nuclear, but of calling things by their name and not making fun of readers. That said, the arrival of small modular reactors in the hydrogen economy changes the balance. As we have already said when talking about Italian innovations in the sector, producing green hydrogen requires massive infrastructure and huge investments. Compact nuclear offers an alternative: less space occupied, continuous production and potentially lower costs per ton of hydrogen.
NuScale’s technology does not replace renewables, but complements them. During peak wind and solar production, hydrogen can be stored; when wind and sun are absent, small modular reactors continue production without interruption. The future of clean energy will not be made of a single technology, but of integrated systems. And the first 200 tons of hydrogen per day produced by a mini modular nuclear reactor could be just the beginning.
