CSIRO electrolysis trial promises solid solution for hard to abate industries

Results from a CSIRO electrolyser 1,000-hour pilot have demonstrated successful efficiency, durability and low cost operation in a game-changing trial of hydrogen production using its tubular solid oxide electrolysis technology.

November 28, 2024 Ev Foley

Image: CSIRO

Producing hydrogen with an electrical input of less than 36 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen, a Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) electrolyser pilot has successfully demonstrated its tubular solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) technology.

Conducted at steel supplier and manufacturer BlueScope Steel’s Port Kembla steelworks in New South Wales (NSW), the SOE technology operates unlike conventional hydrogen electrolysers, which rely on electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

CSIRO’s tubular solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) technology has clocked 1,000 hours of successful operation in the trial.
*Image: CSIRO*

Unlike alkaline (liquid) or PEM (polymer electrolyte) electrolysers, SOE uses both electricity and waste heat (for example, steam from the steelworks) to produce hydrogen with greater efficiency using a solid-state ceramic electrolyte.

SOE operates at temperatures close to 800⁰C, and if using existing waste heat from heavy industry to pre-heat the water going into an SOE electrolyser, 30% less electricity (<42 kWh/kilogram of hydrogen) is used.

CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist and Group Leader Dr Sarb Giddey said the trial produced hydrogen with an electrical input of less than 36 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen, by using the steam produced in the plant by the steelmaking processes.

“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% saving) for hydrogen production could be a game changer for the nascent hydrogen industry,” Giddey said.

“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.”

Renewable equipment manufacturer Hadean Energy has licensed CSIRO’s SOE technology and is testing the long term durability and performance of the modular design at CSIRO’s hydrogen technology demonstration facility.

Following these successful trials, Hadean Energy is preparing to showcase a 5 kW demonstration unit as part of the Australia-UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnerships (HIP) to progress toward a large-scale industrial pilot.

L-R: CSIRO researchers Dr Sarb Giddey and Gurpreet Kaur with Bluescope Steels’ Shannon Ballard, Hadean Energy’s Chris Rowland and Bluescope’s Michael Biro outside containerised electrolyser trial housing.
*Image: CSIRO*

Hadean Energy Chief Executive Officer Chris Rowland said the tubular SOE technology has a further advantage of being inherently less expensive to build because of the simplified manufacturing process and more readily available materials.

“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.”

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