Australia's first hydrogen hub opens at Deakin Warrnambool

Deakin University has announced that it has opened a hydrogen research and demonstration centre, the Hycel Technology Hub.

The 2200 m² bespoke facility is the first of its kind in Australia and is designed for hydrogen research, demonstration, testing and training. It is strategically located at Deakin’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 an 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 is known as agile and industry-facing, and the Hycel Technology Hub epitomises this approach by enabling the sector to tackle key industry challenges that could unlock new domestic and global markets,” said Deakin University Vice Chancellor Professor Iain Martin. “Hycel’s total program value is more than $20 million, and this investment in hydrogen and in regional Victoria demonstrates Deakin’s continued investment in our Warrnambool campus.”

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.”

The building includes plumbed-in low- and high-pressure hydrogen to specialised laboratories and equipment such as the G400 fuel cell stack testing station, the only one of its kind in Australia. Fuel cells 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,” Walsh said. “And all within the broader context of hydrogen adoption encompassing safety, regulatory, societal and workforce development considerations.”

Hycel Technology Hub was funded by $9 million from the Commonwealth and $9 million in Victorian Government funding, as well as contributions from Deakin.