The UK’s energy transition faces a critical challenge: balancing the intermittent nature of renewable energy with the need for reliable, low-carbon power.
According to the National Grid ESO, renewable energy accounted for 42% of the UK’s electricity generation in 2022, but this figure masks the underlying volatility of wind and solar power. During periods of low wind and sunlight, the grid still relies heavily on fossil fuels, with gas-fired plants contributing 38% of total electricity generation. Against this backdrop, Dr. William Bodel of the University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute argues that advanced nuclear technology could serve as a balancing mechanism, enabling both grid stability and low-carbon hydrogen production.
Nuclear power has long been touted as a reliable source of low-carbon energy, but its current design presents economic and operational challenges. Traditional nuclear plants are optimized for continuous operation at full capacity, making them ill-suited to the fluctuating demands of a grid increasingly dominated by renewables. Building a nuclear plant that sits idle during periods of high renewable output is economically untenable, given the high capital costs involved.
Renewables, while essential to decarbonization, face their own limitations. Wind and solar generation are inherently variable, with output fluctuating based on weather conditions. In 2022, the UK experienced multiple instances of “dunkelflaute” – periods of low wind and solar output – during which gas-fired plants were ramped up to meet demand. This reliance on fossil fuels undermines the decarbonization goals of the energy transition.
Advanced Nuclear as a Flexible Balancing Technology
Dr. Bodel proposes a solution: integrating advanced nuclear reactors with hydrogen production to create a flexible energy system. Unlike traditional reactors, advanced nuclear technologies can operate at high temperatures, making them ideal partners for high-temperature electrolysis, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using heat and electricity. By diverting excess nuclear energy to hydrogen production during periods of low grid demand, advanced reactors can maintain continuous operation while providing a valuable low-carbon fuel.
This dual-use approach addresses two key challenges. First, it ensures that nuclear plants operate at full capacity, improving their economic viability. Second, it provides a scalable method for producing low-carbon hydrogen, which can be used in sectors such as heavy industry and transportation, where direct electrification is challenging. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), hydrogen demand could reach 530 million tonnes annually by 2050, with low-carbon hydrogen accounting for 60% of the total.
Synergies Between Nuclear, Renewables, and Hydrogen
The integration of advanced nuclear with renewables and hydrogen production creates a synergistic energy system. During periods of high renewable output, nuclear energy can be diverted to hydrogen production, reducing the need for curtailment – a practice in which excess renewable energy is wasted due to grid constraints. In 2022, the UK curtailed approximately 3.6 terawatt-hours of wind energy, enough to power over 1 million homes for a year. By using this excess energy to produce hydrogen, the system maximizes the value of renewable generation.
Conversely, during periods of low renewable output, advanced reactors can supply electricity directly to the grid, reducing reliance on gas-fired plants. This flexibility not only enhances grid stability but also reduces emissions. Dr. Bodel’s research at the Dalton Nuclear Institute estimates that combining nuclear and renewables with hydrogen production could eliminate the need for backup gas-fired generation, saving up to 15 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2035.
The UK government has already taken steps to support nuclear and hydrogen technologies. The British Energy Security Strategy, published in 2022, aims to triple nuclear capacity to 24 gigawatts by 2050, while the Hydrogen Strategy sets a target of 10 gigawatts of low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030. However, achieving these goals will require significant investment in advanced nuclear technologies and infrastructure.
Dr. Bodel emphasizes the need for accelerated government support, including funding for research and development, streamlined regulatory processes, and incentives for private sector investment. He also calls for a recognition of the wider benefits of advanced nuclear, including its potential to reduce energy storage costs and enhance grid resilience.
The economic viability of advanced nuclear and hydrogen production hinges on several factors, including the cost of electrolysis, the price of hydrogen, and the availability of high-temperature heat. High-temperature electrolysis, while more efficient than conventional methods, requires significant upfront investment. However, the long-term benefits – including reduced emissions, lower energy storage costs, and improved grid stability – could outweigh these costs.
According to a 2023 report by the Energy Systems Catapult, the levelized cost of hydrogen produced using advanced nuclear could fall to £2.50 per kilogram by 2035, making it competitive with hydrogen produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS). This cost reduction, combined with the environmental benefits of low-carbon hydrogen, makes a compelling case for integrating advanced nuclear into the UK’s energy strategy.
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