Australian deep-tech hydrogen startup Hadean Energy has been named one of 12 global finalists in the New Energy Challenge (NEC) 2025, a prestigious innovation competition supported by Shell, Rockstart, Unknown Campus, and YES!Delft.
Selected from over 160 applicants, Hadean stands out for its groundbreaking tubular Solid Oxide Electrolyser (tSOE) technology that dramatically reduces energy consumption and production costs in green hydrogen and e-fuel manufacturing.
Co-founded by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and decarbonisation-focused investment firm RFC Ambrian, Hadean commercialises a system that combines renewable electricity with industrial waste heat to produce hydrogen and syngas with up to 30 per cent less electricity than conventional alkaline and PEM electrolysers.
The tSOE technology also avoids the use of rare or expensive metals, offering lower capital and operational expenditures compared to other high-temperature electrolysis systems.
“The technology is good news for industry because it helps them meet these targets,” said the company.
“It also dramatically lowers manufacturing costs and cuts out the technical challenges of storing and transporting hydrogen at scale by using hydrogen directly in processes like ammonia and methanol synthesis and steel making.”
Hadean CEO Chris Rowland expressed pride in the recognition, stating: “We’re incredibly proud to be recognised as a global finalist and to see an Australian science-led venture standing out on the world stage,” he said.
“This is a rare opportunity to collaborate with some of the most influential players in the energy sector and advance our mission of delivering affordable, zero-emissions hydrogen and e-fuel technology at scale.”
The NEC finalist status offers Hadean access to a tailored accelerator program and the chance to connect with leading investors and energy stakeholders, including opportunities through Shell’s GameChanger and Shell Ventures programs.
The competition’s final event will be held in Helsinki, Finland, in November 2025.
Earlier in 2025, Hadean successfully completed a 1,000-hour industrial pilot of its tSOE system at BlueScope Steel’s Port Kembla site, demonstrating its durability and performance in an industrial setting.
In addition, the startup is partnering with NGV Earth to develop a pilot sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) plant, integrating its efficient syngas production with innovative downstream catalytic synthesis.
The company is also planning a multi-kilowatt demonstration unit as part of the Australia-UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnership, positioning Hadean’s technology for both domestic and international impact.
Green hydrogen and syngas technologies like Hadean’s hold significant promise for reducing emissions in traditionally hard-to-abate industries such as steel manufacturing and ammonia production, by replacing fossil fuels with cleaner energy sources for high-temperature industrial processes.
Syngas derived from waste gasification or biomass can directly substitute natural gas in existing equipment, facilitating a smoother transition to low-carbon operations.
Hadean Energy’s breakthrough represents a major step forward in making zero-emissions hydrogen and e-fuel production more efficient, affordable, and scalable, underscoring Australia’s growing role in the global clean energy transition.
