Nuclear

How Constellation plans to use nuclear for clean energy production

Constellation is highlighting how its nuclear power plants will be used in the production of hydrogen, as well as to power direct air capture (DAC) technology.

Constellation is highlighting how its nuclear power plants will be used in the production of hydrogen, as well as to power direct air capture (DAC) technology.

The power generation spinoff of Exelon released its first sustainability report September 7. It details a “clean energy center” model at the company’s nuclear plants, which make up 25% of the U.S. fleet.

For one thing, the company said it plans to capitalize on the 24/7 heat and electricity production of its nukes to produce hydrogen for power generation and other industries.

Constellation is implementing a pilot project with the U.S. Department of Energy to demonstrate hydrogen production, storage and on-site use from nuclear power through Nel Hydrogen’s 1 MW electrolyzer powered by its Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in Oswego, New York. The project is expected begin producing hydrogen before the end of 2022.

Hydrogen demand is expected to increase to as much as 41 million metric tons per year by 2050, a four-fold increase compared to the current demand. Hydrogen is being blended with traditional gas-fired turbines in power generation applications. However, it also is an important energy resource in industrial and transportation applications.

Through a separate DOE grant, Constellation is exploring the potential for direct air capture technology at its Byron nuclear plant in Illinois. DAC would capture CO2 directly from the atmosphere. Credits are offered for DAC technology in the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act.

In the proposed study, a chemical solution would be added to water flowing through the facility’s main condenser on the non-nuclear side of the Byron plant. After traveling through the condenser, the water would travel out to the cooling towers, where CO2 in the air would attach itself to the chemical solution and be captured and sequestered.

The study, which is expected to finish in 2023, is designed to take advantage of the flow of clean water vapor from the plant’s cooling towers. Constellation said it could lead to a nuclear plant becoming a DAC hub or inform any future decisions around how and where the technology might be integrated with a nuclear plant.

Overall, 90% of Constellation’s generation comes from nuclear, solar, wind and hydroelectric resources. The company has a goal to generate 95% clean energy by 2030 and 100% by 2040.

According to the sustainability report, scope 1 emissions from Constellation generators increased by 3% in 2021, from 8 million metric tons in 2020 to 8.25 million metric tons. However, Constellation said the increase was in comparison to 2020, which experienced low natural gas power generation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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