Sparc Technologies Opens Groundbreaking Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant

Key Highlights:

• Sparc Hydrogen opens first-of-its-kind pilot plant for photocatalytic water splitting (PWS)
• Project backed by Sparc Technologies, Fortescue, and the University of Adelaide
• Commissioning scheduled to begin in July 2025
• Aims to revolutionize green hydrogen by eliminating reliance on electrolysers and power grids

In a bold step toward transforming the green hydrogen sector, Sparc Technologies Ltd (ASX: SPN) has confirmed the successful progress and ceremonial opening of its pioneering photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) pilot plant at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus in South Australia.

The project, led by joint venture Sparc Hydrogen—a collaboration between Sparc Technologies, Fortescue Ltd, and the University of Adelaide—is on track for commissioning in July 2025, with construction proceeding on schedule and within budget. The company’s announcement sparked optimism around the potential for modular, scalable, and low-cost hydrogen production without the conventional dependence on electrolysers or large renewable energy farms.

A Green Hydrogen Breakthrough

Unlike traditional methods that rely on solar or wind power to generate electricity for electrolysers, PWS leverages sunlight, water, and a photocatalyst directly—dramatically simplifying infrastructure and cutting production costs.

“It is fantastic to see the Roseworthy pilot plant taking shape,” said Nick O’Loughlin, Managing Director of Sparc Technologies. “This first-of-its-kind demonstration and R&D facility is a key step toward commercialisation of the technology. In an environment where major challenges exist for hydrogen projects due to the high cost of power, the requirement for new solutions to unlock low-cost green hydrogen without relying on electrolysers has never been higher”.

🎉 Sparc Hydrogen Pilot Plant Opening 🎉

Today we celebrate the opening of Sparc Hydrogen’s first-of-its-kind pilot plant at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy campus.

A JV between Sparc Technologies, Fortescue, and the University of Adelaide, the project is pioneering… pic.twitter.com/ZYUNRlCKok

— Sparc Technologies (ASX:SPN) (@SparctechS) June 24, 2025

Global Partnerships and Strategic Vision

The pilot plant opening was attended by key stakeholders, including senior government officials and representatives from Japan’s Shinshu University—highlighting global collaboration. Civil works began in March 2025 and were swiftly followed by the installation of four concentrated solar modules imported from Spain. The remaining equipment and tie-ins are expected to be completed by early July.

Michael Dolan, Director of R&D at Fortescue, emphasized the project’s potential to disrupt the green hydrogen supply chain:

“The Sparc Hydrogen pilot plant demonstrates the power of partnership in pushing the boundaries of green hydrogen innovation. Photocatalytic water splitting has long held promise and this project is a step toward unlocking its commercial potential” .

Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Adelaide, praised the venture’s broader impact, calling it “a response to one of the great challenges of our times: the development of green energy solutions for a sustainable future for society.”

Why PWS Matters

Key advantages of Sparc Hydrogen’s PWS process include:

• Zero reliance on electricity, removing cost and grid-dependency bottlenecks
• Emissions-free process, using only sunlight as an energy input
• Better suitability for off-grid and remote locations, where traditional infrastructure is lacking
• Lower CAPEX/OPEX compared to electrolyser-based setups
  
   

The plant will also serve as an R&D platform, allowing for on-sun testing of reactor designs and photocatalysts under concentrated solar conditions—an industry first.

A Step Ahead in the Global Green Race

Sparc Hydrogen is not aware of any similar-scale test facilities globally, reinforcing its first-mover status in PWS development. The broader green hydrogen industry is expected to reach over 100 million tonnes per annum in demand, and projects like this are positioned to redefine how that supply is met sustainably.

Upon successful commissioning and testing, the company expects the pilot to transition its proprietary tech from TRL-5 to at least TRL-6, a crucial benchmark for scaling toward commercial deployment.

ASX Snapshot

At 12:01 PM AEST on Tuesday, Sparc Technologies Ltd (ASX: SPN) shares traded at $0.15, down 3.23%, with a market cap of $17.55 million and a 52-week range of $0.135 to $0.335.