By Miles Cull Apr. 8, 2024
ŌARAI — On March 28th the Japanese High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) succeeded its final safety test in Ōarai, Ibaraki prefecture. The reactor was able to shut down with a simulated failure of both its control rods and primary coolant helium gas circulation.
After the 2011 earthquake in Japan, the reactor was shut down. The JAEA said, “regulatory requirements were enhanced in view of the lessons learned from the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.” The HTTR was restarted in 2021 after meeting these requirements.
While the HTTR outputs less power than other conventional nuclear reactors, this test is an example of the design’s commitment to high levels of safety.
Similar reactors to the HTTR are also being planned for the future. According to World Nuclear News, In 2023, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was selected by the Japanese Government to develop additional high temperature gas cooled reactors.
With the test completed, the Japanese government plans to utilize the HTTR reactor to produce hydrogen gas from waste heat. Ryosuke Matsuzoe, a staff writer for Nikkei Asia, said, “The government will take the lead until the technology is established, then let the private sector take over when the tech is ready for wider use.”
Hydrogen is primarily produced with a reforming process that involves CO2 producing natural gas. Hydrogen production using the IS process in the HTTR reactor provides another opportunity to increase the world’s hydrogen manufacturing without incurring more CO2 emissions.
Hydrogen production with the HTTR reactor could begin before 2030. Matsuzoe said, “If the screenings go well, a field test for nuclear hydrogen production will launch in 2028.”
The HTTR reactor is also part of Japan’s Larger Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050.
