In a significant clean energy breakthrough, researchers at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation ( Csiro ) have introduced a pioneering solar technology that could transform how heavy industries are powered.

Called the beam-down solar reactor, the system uses concentrated sunlight to produce green hydrogen, a clean fuel with the potential to replace fossil fuels in high-emission sectors such as steelmaking and shipping.

It is a technical process, but basically here’s how it works: a field of sun-tracking mirrors reflects sunlight onto a central tower, which then redirects that energy downward into a reactor. Inside, a special metal compound called doped ceria heats up and facilitates a chemical reaction that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The resulting hydrogen gas is captured and stored for future use.

“Most hydrogen today comes from methane, which produces emissions,” explains Michael Rae, solar thermal researcher at Csiro. “Our goal is to make hydrogen cleanly and affordably, using only sunlight and water.”

While green hydrogen is typically made through electrolysis, a process that is both costly and energy-intensive, Csiro’s method could offer a more efficient and scalable alternative.

Backed by funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the project was tested at Csiro’s Newcastle Energy Centre. It marks the first successful demonstration of beam-down technology in Australia, opening doors for other high-temperature solar processes, including metal refining.

Tatsuya Kodama, whose Japanese research team developed the doped ceria particles, highlights their impressive performance: “We can produce over three times more hydrogen than standard materials.”

Csiro believes this technological leap could position Australia as a global leader in the green hydrogen race, particularly as the world seeks cleaner solutions for industries that are hard to decarbonize.

“We’re not at full-scale yet,” says project lead Jin-Soo Kim. “But the results show real potential to match traditional methods in cost and performance.” If successful, Australia’s abundant sunlight could become a key driver in cutting industrial emissions worldwide.

Clean energy and finance take centre stage in Singapore

With global interest in clean hydrogen surging, spurred by advances like Csiro’s beam-down reactor, Asia is emerging as a central force in the next wave of the clean energy transition.

That momentum will be a key theme at The Asset’s 10th Sustainable Infrastructure Finance Summit on July 2 in Singapore. One of the highlight sessions, Panel Three: Hydrogen – A New Frontier in Clean Energy, will examine Asia’s growing hydrogen economy and its implications for infrastructure, policy, and investment.

Already a leader in solar, hydro, and wind, Asia is now pushing ahead with hydrogen to decarbonize sectors where electrification falls short. The panel will address which countries are leading the charge, how regulatory frameworks are evolving, and how investors are assessing both the opportunities and risks.

Contributing to the discussion are voices from across the energy and finance landscape. Mathieu Geze, director for Asia-Pacific at HDF Energy, will discuss real-world deployment of green hydrogen. Benjamin Petit, head of finance at InterContinental Energy, will bring insights from one of the world’s most ambitious renewable hydrogen initiatives.

Apurva Jhalani, CFO of PacificLight Power, will add a Southeast Asian utility perspective, while Amy Long, Siemens Energy’s head of business development for Asia-Pacific, will highlight the role of advanced technology in scaling hydrogen solutions.

Together, they will unpack the challenges and chart the investment pathways in one of Asia’s most promising clean energy frontiers.