The video gets a few things wrong about nuclear power, but overall it shows how nuclear can be used to produce hydrogen. I had a few problems with the narrator constantly emphasizing Japan, as if Japan is the only country working on this.
China recently started up a 200 MW demonstration plant using this high temperature gas technology, although I believe the plant only produces electricity.
Here in the US, X-Energy is developing reactors using TRISO fuel, as described in the following thread from earlier this month.
X-energy also recently started work on a fuel plant in Tennessee.
Back to the YouTube video, I like the idea of the Iodine-Sulfur process for producing hydrogen. I can see it being more efficient than electrolysis.
I don’t know if hydrogen is going to become a big deal in the future, but if it needs to be made cleanly, then nuclear power is the best way to do it. Large scale chemical plants generally want to run 24 hours a day to be the most efficient. They don’t want to shut down if the sun isn’t shining or if the wind dies down.
- Pete