AEC chief: Demonstrator reactor for hydrogen generation to be ready by 2015

India has joined the league of countries like South Africa, China, US and Germany, which are trying to develop a high temperature reactor for large scale hydrogen generation. Hydrogen is increasingly been seen as an alternative fuel to power vehicles as also for a host of other uses in the technologies of the future.

According to Anil Kakodkar, Atomic Energy Commission chairman, the technology demonstrator reactor would be ready by 2015 on which work is currently in progress.
Kakodkar was speaking to reporters in Kalpakkam on Sunday.

Srikumar Banerjee, director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), said the reactor would generate hydrogen by splitting water and its actual construction would take some time.

He said the programme was running on schedule and technology development was presently under way. He added that currently the reactor design, materials and materials processing capabilities were being developed.

He added that India would have sufficient uranium to meet the requirements of both the reactors currently operational as well as those in the process of being commissioned.

He said by 2012-13 India would overcome the problems for all the reactors currently operating and those that will be commissioned. He said the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) plans to launch four 700 MW units for which, in-principle approval has been granted.