Deakin University’s $2.3 million Hydrogen Test Bed gets underway

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Although South Australia and Western Australia seem to be doing most of the work, it is important to remember that the pursuit of hydrogen development is, in fact, a group project, and other Australian states and territories have contributions to make. Yesterday, Victoria took the initiative through a $2.3 million industry-led hydrogen research project at Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus. 

The five-year project known as the Hydrogen Test Bed, in conjunction with Future Fuels CRC, is an effort to establish south-west Victoria as a hub of hydrogen expertise by burying gas pipes in sand, filling them with hydrogen, and seeing what happens. The aim of the research is to determine the suitability of Australia’s gas infrastructure for the transportation of hydrogen, which is to say, to make sure Australia doesn’t build its hydrogen economy on sand. 

Of course, if it is found that Australia’s existing gas infrastructure can be repurposed, not only will a domestic green hydrogen market be accelerated but more funds can be allocated to other aspects of the clean energy transition. 

“This project is looking at all parts of the reticulated gas network,” said lead researcher Nolene Byrne, “including welds, junctures, regulators and appliances, so that we can safely introduce hydrogen into existing infrastructure.” 

 

The Hydrogen Test Bed facility is to be located in the proposed Hycel Technology Hub which has $2 million in Commonwealth funding to develop a facility for the development of hydrogen technologies at scale.

Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Iain Martin said that the university is “responding to the needs of governments and industry to deliver research that unlocks the potential of hydrogen and regional Victoria.”

Of course, the Commonwealth Government has already formalised its ambitions in the hydrogen sector through the National Hydrogen Strategy, but just as the Hydrogen Test Bed is industry-led, so indeed is the sector itself becoming. Earlier this month, the Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) announced that over fifty Australian businesses have now signed up as members. 

“The hydrogen sector is increasingly being seen as an important part of the future energy mix,” says Dr Fiona Simon, CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council. “The confidence underpinning this hydrogen sector expansion and investment is being demonstrated through our fast-growing membership, even during the pandemic.”

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