Plasma: a Tool to Electrify Our Chemical Industries

Achieving net zero emissions is one of the defining challenges of our time, requiring new approaches to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries such as chemical manufacturing. Fertilisers, fuels and industrial chemicals remain essential, but are highly emissions-intensive to manufacture.

In this seminar, Professor PJ Cullen will introduce PlasmaLeap Technologies, a company developing modular chemical plants powered by renewable electricity. Originating from research at the University of Sydney and UNSW Sydney, PlasmaLeap’s technology energises gases to generate reactive species from abundant resources including air, water, methane and carbon dioxide, enabling new green electrified chemical pathways.

PJ will describe PlasmaLeap’s journey from lab-based plasma research to a globally backed commercial technology, highlighting applications in decentralised nitrogen fertiliser production, sustainable fuels and critical-mineral processing. He will examine the potential to disrupt the current heavily centralised production market and the vulnerability of current supply chains.

PlasmaLeap’s technology can be integrated within electrical grids as a flexible Power-to-X load. By responding rapidly to electricity availability, distributed chemical plants could reduce curtailment, support grid stability and strengthen sovereign chemical supply chains.

About the Speaker

Professor PJ Cullen

Professor PJ Cullen is a plasma scientist, chemical engineer and technology entrepreneur at the University of Sydney, focused on transforming research into scalable solutions. His work combines plasma physics, reaction engineering and electrochemistry to electrify production of fertilisers and fuels, while addressing environmental challenges.

PJ has authored more than 350 publications and was recognised as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher during 2018-2025. Across academic and commercial ventures, he has helped secure more than $70 million in funding to move science beyond the laboratory and into commercial deployment.

He is co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of PlasmaLeap Technologies, a spinout developing modular systems for sustainable nitrogen fixation and chemical production. PlasmaLeap has raised $30 million in Series A funding and attracted backing from the Gates Foundation, Yara International, UniSuper and the Grains Research & Development Corporation. PlasmaLeap was the overall winner of the 2025 THRIVE Global Impact Challenge.

BREAKFAST SEMINAR

The Science & Research Breakfast Seminar Series is held at the Strangers’ Function Room at Parliament of NSW, Sydney.

Where: Parliament of NSW. Entry is via Macquarie Street, Sydney. Guests are required to undergo routine security screening.

Time: Breakfast, tea and coffee are served from 7.30am.

The seminar starts at 8am sharp and concludes by 9am. Tea and coffee is also available afterwards.

RSVP: Monday 16 November 2026

TO REGISTER: https://events.humanitix.com/plasma-a-tool-to-electrify-our-chemical-industries

IMPORTANT BOOKING INFORMATION
When making multiple bookings, please include the names of all who are attending, to ensure they have a nametag on the day.

For further information or for any accessibility requests, email events.rsvp@chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9228 3347