CSIRO's Breakthrough in Hydrogen Production at BlueScope Steelworks in New South Wales
Key Ideas
- CSIRO successfully trialled its hydrogen production technology with BlueScope, achieving 1000 hours of operation with high efficiency.
- The advanced SOE technology utilizes waste heat and electricity, reducing electricity consumption by up to 30%, making it a game changer for the hydrogen industry.
- BlueScope sees hydrogen as crucial for achieving net zero emissions and is supporting pilot projects to decarbonize steelmaking.
- Hadean Energy, a CSIRO spinout, is licensing the technology and working on commercialization to accelerate industrial decarbonization.
CSIRO has conducted a successful trial of its hydrogen production technology at BlueScope's Port Kembla Steelworks in New South Wales, demonstrating the viability of generating affordable and renewable hydrogen at scale. The tubular solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) technology has operated for 1000 hours, showcasing its efficiency in utilizing waste heat and electricity to produce hydrogen. Dr. Sarb Giddey highlighted the technology's ability to reduce electricity consumption significantly, potentially revolutionizing the hydrogen industry. BlueScope's Head of Future Technologies, Chris Page, views hydrogen as integral to the company's pathway to achieving net zero emissions in steelmaking. Hadean Energy, a CSIRO spinout, is working on commercializing the SOE technology to drive industrial decarbonization. The successful trial with BlueScope and plans for further demonstrations indicate a promising future for clean hydrogen technology.