NuScale and PNNL Pioneer SMR-Powered Desalination and Hydrogen Production System

NuScale Power Corporation and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are teaming up on a bold new project that could seriously shake up how we think about sustainable energy. Together, they’ve developed an integrated nuclear-powered system that does something pretty revolutionary—it creates clean hydrogen and desalinated water at the same time. The work is being done at NuScale’s headquarters in Corvallis, Oregon, and it’s making waves in the space where industrial decarbonization and water scarcity issues meet head-on.

A Fresh Take on Zero-Emission Infrastructure

At the core of this effort is NuScale’s certified 77 MWe NuScale Power Module (NPM), a small modular reactor (SMR) that’s not only scalable and ultra-safe, but also got the green light from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in early 2023. Sure, providing electricity is a given—but these reactors also produce thermal energy, which opens the door to all kinds of industrial uses beyond just flipping on the lights.

Here’s where it gets interesting: NuScale is pairing that heat with a reverse osmosis desalination setup to turn seawater into fresh, drinkable water. But instead of dumping the leftover brine like most systems do, they’re using that salty byproduct in a whole new way. By running it through a hydro-thermal chemical process powered by reactor heat, they’re not just disposing of waste—they’re transforming it into clean hydrogen without needing the high energy input of electrolysis, or the carbon emissions from methods like steam methane reforming.

Behind the Scenes: How the System Works

It starts with seawater, pressurized and filtered through high-tech membranes that pull the clean stuff one way and push concentrated brine the other. Normally this brine would be tossed back into the sea—bad news for marine ecosystems. But not here. In NuScale’s setup, the brine is redirected into a chemical conversion process that turns it into sodium formate and other intermediates. When combined with heat and steam from the reactor, this chain reaction ends with the creation of hydrogen gas—a clean, flexible power source that can be used in transportation, heavy industry, or for storing energy.

All of this is modeled and tested using a powerful Integrated Energy System Simulator at NuScale’s facility in Corvallis. This platform lets engineers virtually run the system to test performance, ensure safety, and fine-tune how desalination and hydrogen production work together before putting it all into practice.

Why This Matters: Big Picture Impacts

This isn’t just a cool science project. It could be a game-changer. Most hydrogen today is still made with carbon-heavy processes. Electrolysis is cleaner but demands an outrageous amount of electricity. NuScale’s system sidesteps both, creating green hydrogen in a low-carbon, energy-efficient way. And by using brine as a feedstock, it’s solving one of desalination’s biggest environmental headaches—what to do with all the leftover saltwater.

Business Trajectory and Market Window

NuScale stands out as one of the few publicly traded companies developing nuclear tech (NYSE: SMR). With gross profit margins over 75%, they’ve got some room to invest in innovation. And thanks to longstanding support from the U.S. government and scientific heavyweights like PNNL, which specializes in clean tech R&D, they’re not going it alone.

Momentum around green hydrogen and clean water solutions is growing fast, especially in water-stressed and energy-hungry regions. But even with strong market interest, the road ahead involves navigating some pretty tricky terrain—slow-moving permits, dense regulations, and big infrastructure price tags that historically come with nuclear projects.

No Such Thing as a Slam Dunk

As exciting as this sounds, there are still hurdles to overcome. Getting these SMR systems approved and deployed is complex, and every location has its own maze of regulatory hoops. Plus, while this new method of hydrogen production avoids some of the downsides of electrolysis, it still has to prove it can compete on cost once it’s out in the real world.

Success depends on more than just having the tech nailed down. There needs to be real market demand for hydrogen that doesn’t rely on the grid. And regulators have to recognize the unique benefits of combining nuclear power with water purification and hydrogen generation to give projects like this a fighting chance.

Looking Ahead: A Clean Energy Combo That Could Work

This isn’t just another pilot project. It’s a bold demonstration that nuclear power can do a lot more than just keep the lights on. NuScale’s hybrid system shows how we might use nuclear energy more creatively—as a central piece of a multi-layered clean energy puzzle that includes green hydrogen, clean water, and sustainable energy production.

Whether this model gains global traction will depend on the usual suspects: public perception, political will, and financial investment. Still, companies like NuScale and institutions like PNNL are pushing the boundaries of what zero-emission technology can do—and they just might be on to something big.