The Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute and Doosan Heavy Industry are aiming to set up a joint hydrogen and nuclear research centre in partnership with US nuclear technology company General Atomics.
General Atomics is the only US company actively pursuing the development of next generation nuclear hydrogen technology, and the Korean consortium want to build on its expertise to make cheap hydrogen from nuclear energy a commercial reality.
“The project is part of an ongoing effort by the Government to join a multinational effort to build a fourth-generation nuclear power system that makes use of the so-called very high temperature gas-cooled reactor,” a spokesperson from the Ministry of Science and Economy told Asia Pulse magazine.
In addition to providing large amounts of electricity for domestic use, a high temperature gas-cooled reactor is able to make use of the extreme heat from the generation process to aid in the production of hydrogen.
The South Korean Government has said it believes a hydrogen economy represents the energy future of the world, and the development of nuclear hydrogen is a key goal in helping the nation prepare.
Research centres are expected to be set up in General Atomics’ San Diego office and at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in Daejon, outside of Seoul, once a memorandum of understanding is signed.
