Hadean Energy is advancing its hydrogen technology toward commercialisation as it trials its Solid Oxide Electrolysis technology at the Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Facility (HTDF) at CSIRO’s Clayton campus in Victoria.
The HTDF offers essential infrastructure, allowing innovators like Hadean Energy to test their hydrogen technologies in real-world conditions as they move closer to market readiness, CSIRO said in a news release.
Supported by CSIRO’s Kick-Start grant, Hadean Energy is testing its innovative electrolyser, which can produce green hydrogen using up to 30 per cent less electricity than conventional models.
In addition, this tubular Solid Oxide Electrolysis technology can produce syngas for e-fuels, offering lower manufacturing and maintenance costs due to its streamlined design and proprietary catalyst.
The current testing phase, which is set to continue for several months, is focused on verifying the long-term durability and performance of the electrolyser.
Chris Rowland, CEO of Hadean Energy, expressed satisfaction with the trial’s progress.
“Testing at the Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Facility has proceeded smoothly, with great support from the CSIRO staff,” Rowland shared.
“Successful completion of our trial will help us progress to commercial scale electrolyser production, and make a vital contribution to decarbonising hard-to-abate industries.”
According to Rowland, the trial results so far have exceeded expectations, marking a promising step toward bringing the technology to market.
Critical facility for hydrogen innovation
The Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Facility at CSIRO’s Clayton campus is tailored to support the development of emerging hydrogen technologies, offering renewable electricity in multiple phases, ample deionised water supplies, and essential safety systems.
These features, along with practical technical support, create an environment where hydrogen production, storage, and utilisation technologies can be tested and refined.
Karen Kozielski, Deputy Leader of the Hydrogen Industry Mission, emphasised the importance of the HTDF for scaling up research projects safely.
“The facility is particularly useful for researchers moving their technology from benchtop scale to pilot and commercially relevant scale, where safety is obviously very important,” Kozielski stated.
“Our robust safety systems, including risk assessments, allow researchers to ensure their technology is demonstrated within CSIRO’s strict protocols.”
Supporting innovation through the kick-start program
CSIRO’s Kick-Start program played a key role in advancing Hadean Energy’s project from early research to a market-ready trial phase.
The program, which provides matched funding and expert support to startups and small to medium enterprises, enabled Hadean Energy to access the necessary research facilities to trial their electrolyser.
The Kick-Start program is designed to assist companies already pursuing funding, helping them refine and demonstrate their technologies to potential stakeholders, and accelerating the path to commercialisation.
For Hadean Energy, the program has been instrumental in showcasing a technology with the potential to reduce emissions and provide efficient, scalable green hydrogen solutions.
