Further research for the use of hydrogen as energy has been successfully approved and now in development at the Deakin campus at Warnambool, Victoria. The Hycel Technology Hub which is expected to complete construction in late 2023 aims to provide a multitude of services including: research, testing, optimisation and training within the facility. The hub was developed to support Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy which aims to significantly reduce Australia’s carbon emissions and become net zero by 2050.
The Hycel Technology Hub will focus on fuel cell technology which can be widely advantageous for use in the transportation industry. Fuel cells work by feeding hydrogen to either an anode or cathode depending on the catalyst that is used and separates the hydrogen molecules into electrons and protons. The electrons pass through an external circuit where electricity is generated, and the hydrogen protons are often reacted with oxygen in most cases to produce water.
The major advantages fuels cells provide as alternative source of fuel in transportation include: zero greenhouse gas emissions, rapid charging times, similar to that of internal combustion engines (ICE), greater range and efficiencies than that of ICE’s and are not affected by outside temperatures which often results in a loss or deterioration of energy. For this reason, the use of hydrogen has significant advantages in remote locations where hydrogen can be stored as energy and used in demand for either mobile or stationary applications.
Both Deakin’s and Warnambool’s ambitions continue to lead the advancement of this technology with future plans to construct a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses and to replace current diesel engines, as well as construct supporting infrastructure including hydrogen refuelling stations. The success of deploying public hydrogen fuel cell buses will be both a first and large milestone for Australia and further support industrial sectors by helping Australia achieve its decarbonisation targets.