Tubular Solid Oxide Electrolysis

Hydrogen produced from electrolysis of water has been recognised worldwide as a viable option to produce green hydrogen for decarbonisation of the energy, industry, and transport sectors. However, the key barrier that restricts the adoption of this technology largely is the high electrolyser (capex) and operating costs (electricity). The global hydrogen market has been forecast to reach US$1.4 trillion in 2050. Australia has an ambition to be a global hydrogen leader.

CSIRO’s tubular solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) technology provides several advantages over established hydrogen generation technologies such as high operational efficiency and flexibility, lower capital expenditure, and high upscale potential due to simple structure and robustness.  Large scale systems can be built together by assembling multiple SOE tubes as per requirement in downstream processes.  Using heat or steam at 600–800°C where available freely or at low cost, hydrogen can be produced from steam electrolysis (splitting into hydrogen and oxide ions) using ceramic membranes as oxide ion conductors and separating oxide ions (as oxygen) from hydrogen, under applied potentials.  This technology requires up to 30% less electricity compared to alkaline and PEM electrolyser technologies. These advantages will allow industrial and other energy sectors to decarbonise by adopting hydrogen at scale.  Advantageously, SOE can electrolyse CO2 together with steam to produce syngas.  The technology can therefore be considered a ‘technology platform’, enabling the inexpensive, mass production of hydrogen, and potentially other synthetic fuels as hydrogen and syngas (Hx/CO) which are the feedstock to produce many value-added chemicals and fuels (including aviation fuels). As such, CSIRO’s SOE technology has a wide range of applications across various industries including steel, ammonia, petrochemical and methanol production.

With funding from SIEF, a kW class SOE pilot plant has been successfully demonstrated in partnership with BlueScope Steel (BSS) at Port Kembla using high grade steam available at BSS. This has significantly progressed the TRL of the technology and its commercial viability, generating further interest and possible industry engagement opportunities.  Successful demonstration of the technology in partnership with a major Australian steel manufacturer has provided intensive learnings and further technology development opportunities at large scale.  This has only been possible because of the support from SIEF.

In 2023 Hadean Energy was established as a spin out company, based on CSIRO’s solid oxide electrolysis technology. While CSIRO trialled the tubular SOE electrolyser in the field with BlueScope, Hadean Energy is testing the long-term durability and performance of the modular design at CSIRO’s Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Facility (HTDF) to accelerate the commercialisation activities.