What Is Green Hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. But on Earth, it doesn't exist freely — it has to be extracted from something else. How you extract it determines its colour label:
- Grey hydrogen: Made from natural gas via steam methane reforming. Cheap, but produces ~10 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of hydrogen. This is 95% of current global production.
- Blue hydrogen: Grey hydrogen with carbon capture bolted on. Still uses gas. Capture rates are 85–95% at best. Still produces CO₂.
- Green hydrogen (electrolysis): Made by splitting water using renewable electricity. Zero carbon at point of production. But dependent on intermittent wind/solar.
- Green hydrogen (CFF / nuclear HTSE): Made by splitting water using nuclear heat at 750°C via High-Temperature Steam Electrolysis. Zero carbon. Available 24/7. No intermittency.
CFF's hydrogen is green in every meaningful sense — produced from water using zero-carbon energy with no fossil fuel inputs whatsoever.
Why the UK Needs Hydrogen at Scale
Britain's net-zero target is legally binding. But some sectors cannot be electrified:
- Steelmaking: Needs hydrogen to replace coking coal in direct reduction
- Fertiliser production: Needs hydrogen as a feedstock for ammonia (Haber-Bosch)
- Shipping: Needs hydrogen-derived ammonia or e-fuels for long-haul propulsion
- Aviation: Needs synthetic kerosene (e-fuels) made from hydrogen and captured CO₂
- Heavy road transport: Needs hydrogen fuel cells for range and payload
- Industrial heating: Needs hydrogen to replace gas burners above 400°C
Without abundant, cheap hydrogen, these sectors either keep burning fossil fuels or they shut down. There is no third option.
The UK's Current Hydrogen Strategy: A Reality Check
The government's 2021 UK Hydrogen Strategy set a target of 10 GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030. As of 2025, the UK has delivered less than 0.5 GW. Most approved projects are blue hydrogen (still using gas).
The fundamental problem is cost. Electrolysis using grid electricity costs £4–6/kg. At that price, hydrogen cannot compete with natural gas for industrial users.
CFF's Hydrogen Output: The Numbers
Each CFF site produces 2,072 tonnes of hydrogen per day using HTSE (High-Temperature Steam Electrolysis). Across 28 sites, the national output is:
- 58,016 tonnes/day of green hydrogen
- ~704 TWh/year of hydrogen energy
- At approximately 40 kWh per kg — among the most efficient electrolysis routes
The efficiency advantage comes from temperature. CFF's
HTGR reactors produce helium at
750°C, generating steam at ~700°C. HTSE uses this heat directly, reducing the electrical energy needed to split water by approximately 30% compared to conventional low-temperature electrolysis.
How CFF Hydrogen Gets Allocated
The hydrogen allocation strategy prioritises national needs:
- Transport & e-fuels: Synthetic aviation fuel, hydrogen for HGVs and shipping
- Industry: Steel, cement, glass, and chemical feedstocks
- Fertiliser: Green ammonia for UK agriculture via Haber-Bosch
- Grid balancing: Hydrogen storage for peak demand and Dunkelflaute events
- Export: Surplus hydrogen for European markets
The Storage Advantage
Hydrogen can be stored in salt caverns — the UK has extensive salt deposits in Cheshire, Teesside, and East Yorkshire. Each CFF site includes provisions for strategic hydrogen storage, creating a national buffer equivalent to weeks of supply.
This makes hydrogen the missing piece in energy storage. Batteries work for hours. Pumped hydro works for days. Hydrogen stored in salt caverns works for weeks or months — the timescale needed to survive extended periods of low wind (Dunkelflaute).
Why Nuclear Hydrogen Beats Renewable Hydrogen
| Factor | Wind/Solar Electrolysis | CFF Nuclear HTSE |
|---|
| Capacity factor | 25–35% | 90%+ |
| Available hours/year | 2,200–3,000 | 7,800+ |
| Cost per kg (estimate) | £4–6 | £1.50–2.50 |
| Heat integration | No (low temp) | Yes (750°C direct) |
| Land required per GW | Thousands of hectares | 55 hectares |
| Grid impact | Competes for renewables | Independent of grid |
The capacity factor alone is decisive. A wind-powered electrolyser sits idle 65–75% of the time. CFF's HTSE runs continuously, producing hydrogen around the clock.
See the full hydrogen strategy →
Carbon Free Future is an independent proposal by DJ Waugh, a retired engineer from the North East of England.