Hydrogen can be produced through several processes, two of which are briefly described here: HTSE and nuclear-integrated steam methane reforming. Hydrogen is a key element for making fuels and other industrial chemicals. Industry is currently making hydrogen from natural gas via steam reforming. Water and methane are feeds for the process in which some of the methane is used to make steam and the remainder is combined with the steam to create hydrogen and carbon dioxide. In the traditional case, natural gas would be used to drive the steam reforming to produce hydrogen. For the nuclear-integrated steam methane reforming case, process heat from the reactor would be added to the steam reformer [19, 20].

Hydrogen can also be produced using a nuclear reactor by way of HTSE. The heat and electrical power from the reactor can be used to split water using solid oxide electrolysis cells to create hydrogen and oxygen. The process heat from the reactor reduces the amount of electricity needed to split the water, thus increasing the efficiency of the process when compared to low-temperature electrolysis [4].

Hydrogen is an important component for many industrial processes. The conventional method of steam methane reforming is the least expensive hydrogen production method, but produces carbon dioxide and requires constant operation. Hydrogen from electrolysis processes can be turned on and off readily and, for hybrid energy systems, offers a means to integrate intermittent renewable resources. HTSE has higher production efficiency than low-temperature electrolysis that results from the addition of thermal energy to split the water molecule. Heat is required, but heat recuperation within the electrolysis process greatly reduces the amount needed. Only 10-15 percent of the heat from a reactor is needed to maintain HTSE temperatures. The remainder of the heat is converted to electricity to run the electrolysis cells. As long as the cells are maintained at the desired temperature, the electrolysis process can be turned on and off as needed. HTSE also has no carbon dioxide emissions.