Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has achieved a significant milestone in hydrogen technology, demonstrating its advanced tubular solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) system at BlueScope Steel’s Port Kembla Steelworks.
The pilot trial has proven the technology’s potential to produce renewable hydrogen efficiently and affordably, paving the way for decarbonising heavy industry, the agency said in a news release.
The trial, which commenced in October 2024, marked over 1,000 hours of successful operation. Unlike conventional electrolysers that rely heavily on electricity, CSIRO’s SOE technology leverages both waste heat—such as steam generated during steelmaking—and electricity to achieve higher efficiency.
Dr Sarb Giddey, Senior Principal Research Scientist and Group Leader at CSIRO, highlighted the breakthrough in energy efficiency during the trial.
“Since electricity takes up the lion’s share of variable production costs for renewable hydrogen, a substantial reduction in the electricity required (up to 30 per cent saving) for hydrogen production could be a game changer for the nascent hydrogen industry,” Dr Giddey explained.
Dr Giddey underscored the importance of the field trial: “Taking a new technology out of the lab and into the field can highlight unforeseen challenges, so we are delighted to see that our technology is meeting the performance requirements in terms of hydrogen production, electrical efficiency, and reliability.”
Chris Page, Head of Future Technologies at BlueScope Steel, acknowledged the potential of the CSIRO technology in advancing low-carbon steelmaking processes.
“BlueScope is proud to support pilot projects that align with our goals of low-carbon emission steelmaking. The CSIRO electrolyser pilot has produced positive outcomes in its short-term operation, and we look forward to seeing it evolve,” Page said.
CSIRO’s innovation is being advanced by its spinout company, Hadean Energy, which has licensed the SOE technology. Hadean Energy CEO Chris Rowland emphasised the broader implications of the milestone.
“The 1000-hour milestone validates the technology in a real-world industrial setting, increasing the technology readiness level to prepare for commercialisation,” Rowland said.
“It shows the potential for Hadean Energy’s electrolyser to decarbonise hard to abate industries.”
Hadean Energy is now preparing to showcase a 5kW demonstration unit as part of the Australia-UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnerships, a critical step toward scaling up to industrial pilot levels.
The project is backed by the Science and Industry Endowment Fund and complements ongoing durability and performance testing at CSIRO’s Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Facility.
With these trials, CSIRO and Hadean Energy are positioning Australia as a global leader in clean hydrogen technologies.
