A 2,200-square-metre facility designed for hydrogen research, demonstration, testing and training officially opened this week.
The Hycel Technology Hub is strategically located at Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus, along a key interstate transport corridor that connects industries, communities and resources, and is within a Victorian Renewable Energy Zone.
Hycel’s vision is to facilitate the industry-led advance of safe, commercially viable adoption of hydrogen into Australia’s clean energy mix. The Hub includes purpose-built spaces for industry co-location with a focus on fuel cell and hydrogen technologies.
Deakin University Vice Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said the Hycel Technology Hub enables the sector to tackle key industry challenges that could unlock new domestic and global markets.
“Hycel’s total program value is more than 20 million dollars, and this investment in hydrogen and in regional Victoria demonstrates Deakin’s continued investment in our Warrnambool campus,” he said.
Hycel Director Professor Tiffany Walsh said Hycel brings a hands-on approach to real-world hydrogen usage.
“We bridge university, industry and the community to help drive the clean energy transition,” she said.
The building includes plumbed-in low- and high-pressure hydrogen to specialised laboratories and equipment such as the G400 fuel cell stack testing station.
Fuel cells, Deakin said, are the technology that transform hydrogen gas into electricity to power land vehicles, aviation and marine applications, as well as ground-based uses such as generators.
The facility includes a new product engineering lab and three dedicated lab bays with associated offices. The hub also boasts a dedicated community and multifunctional space for events, training, industry collaboration and networking.
“At Hycel, industry partners can leverage these unique spaces and equipment to maximise their competitiveness and create new global market opportunities,” said Professor Walsh.
“And all within the broader context of hydrogen adoption encompassing safety, regulatory, societal and workforce development considerations.”
Hycel Technology Hub was funded by $9m Federal Government and $9m Victorian State Government funding, as well as contributions from Deakin.
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