The role of Small Modular Reactors in decarbonizing Hydrogen Production. Electro-Thermal integration and Economic insights.

This thesis investigates the integration of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with electrolyzers to produce low-carbon hydrogen, emphasizing applications within the aviation sector. Hydrogen, a crucial element in the transition to sustainable energy, presents challenges in cost-effective production, particularly when relying on intermittent renewable energy sources. By leveraging the continuous and high-capacity output of SMRs, this study explores their potential to stabilize hydrogen production through electrolysis. A MATLAB-based model was developed to evaluate the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) for various electrolyzer technologies—Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM), Alkaline Water Electrolyzers (AWE), and Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells (SOEC)—under different operational scenarios. The economic feasibility of SMR-integrated hydrogen production was further analyzed using the Hydrogen Economic Evaluation Program (HEEP), incorporating both capital and operational expenses. Additionally, a Simulink model was formulated to examine thermodynamic coupling between SMRs and electrolyzers, focusing on system efficiency and dynamic responses. Preliminary results highlight the competitive advantage of SMR-powered SOEC systems in achieving lower LCOH, especially under scenarios of high thermal and electrical integration. The findings underscore the viability of nuclear-hydrogen coupling in providing a reliable, scalable, and cost-effective pathway for on-site hydrogen production, particularly in decarbonizing aviation infrastructure. Future work includes refining the models with real-world data and extending the analysis to broader industrial applications.