Hadean Energy, a rising clean-tech startup from Australia, is turning heads as a global finalist in the Shell-backed New Energy Challenge 2025—and not just because it sounds cool. They’re making real progress in a space that’s been begging for innovation: green hydrogen production.
Spun out of CSIRO and backed by investment firm RFC Ambrian, Hadean is working on something called the tubular Solid Oxide Electrolyser (tSOE)—a mouthful, sure, but this tech promises to cut the electricity needed for hydrogen electrolysis by as much as 30%. That’s a game-changer. And it’s not just on paper. Their system is already being tested out in the real world at BlueScope Steel’s Port Kembla plant and CSIRO’s Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Facility in Victoria.
What Makes This Tech Stand Out
- More Bang for Your Energy Buck: By tapping into industrial waste heat, the tSOE slashes power use—always a major pain point in hydrogen electrolysis.
- Real-World Testing: They’re not just lab-coat deep. Pilots in heavy industry show the tech can take a punch and keep working.
- Big-Name Backing: With a spot in Shell’s New Energy Challenge, Hadean gains access to a global stage, plus key investors and partners.
- Goodbye Rare Metals: The tSOE design skips the expensive and hard-to-find stuff, helping dodge supply chain nightmares and shave off costs.
How It Works
Rather than using just water, the tSOE runs at high temperatures and uses steam, pulling in waste heat from industrial settings and running it through a ceramic tubular setup. This combo of thermal and electrical energy means the system needs a lot less electricity to get the job done—solving one of the major pricing challenges in today’s green hydrogen space.
They’re testing the tech where it really counts—at BlueScope’s steelworks in New South Wales and the CSIRO hydrogen demo site in Victoria. So no, this isn’t a startup trialing on a lab bench. It’s proving itself in the kind of industrial chaos where these solutions actually need to work.
More Than Just Smart Tech—Smart Strategy
Sure, the tech is solid. But what really sets Hadean apart is how they’re navigating the energy space. With CSIRO as a founding partner, they’ve got scientific firepower. With RFC Ambrian backing them, they’ve also got the business and funding chops. Throw in Shell’s New Energy Challenge and support networks like Rockstart, YES!Delft, and Unknown Group, and you’re looking at a startup with serious launch potential.
Being named a global finalist isn’t just for show—it’s a direct line to major players across the energy world, the kind of access most startups dream about but rarely get.
Why This Actually Matters
Industrial decarbonization isn’t some future ideal—it’s a now problem. Sectors like steel, chemicals, and transport need cleaner, more affordable fuel options, and fast. Traditional electrolysis tech—think alkaline and PEM—often comes with bulky energy needs, hard-to-source materials, and shaky supply chains. Hadean is offering an upgrade that could move the needle on all fronts.
If their tech keeps performing the way early results suggest, it could position Australia as a heavyweight in hydrogen fuel and clean ammonia exports, while giving industries a legit way to lower emissions without dialing back operations.
What’s Next
Australia is already making some bold moves in clean energy, and Hadean’s tSOE lines up perfectly with those long-term goals around zero-emission technology and industrial decarbonization. Between CSIRO’s deep research credentials and RFC Ambrian’s commercial expertise, the company’s got a roadmap that covers both innovation and scale readiness.
Of course, full commercial rollout will hinge on more testing and securing the next rounds of funding. But here’s the thing: Hadean’s already past the stage most hydrogen production startups never hit—moving from lab setup to real-industry deployment. And with lower energy consumption, no rare metals, and seamless integration into existing industrial setups, they’re offering one of the most well-rounded solutions in the hydrogen world right now.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t pie-in-the-sky tech—it’s a real shift in how we think about making green hydrogen. By reducing electricity needs and plugging into current infrastructure, Hadean Energy’s tSOE could be the key to making zero-emission fuels practical and affordable. There’s still a road ahead, but one thing’s for sure—this is one startup worth watching.
