The first sod has officially turned on Hycel’s Hydrogen Training Testbed, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin yesterday joining Federal Education Minister and Wannon MP, the Hon Dan Tehan at Deakin University’s Warrnambool Campus in Victoria to mark the significant milestone.
Deakin’s Hycel is a ground-breaking hydrogen research, testing and training initiative in south-west Victoria and the new Training Testbed will see South West TAFE and industry partners start to prepare a workforce ready to embrace Australia’s hydrogen economy. Plumbers, engineers and technicians, regulatory bodies and first responder agencies will soon begin training in hydrogen at Hycel.
Professor Martin said Hycel’s industry-led approach focuses on developing hydrogen technologies and training that support Australia’s burgeoning hydrogen industry.
“The new Hydrogen Training Testbed at Deakin’s Warrnambool campus will enable hydrogen research with exciting real-world applications. Our Warrnambool Campus continues to strengthen its reputation as a hub of innovation and expertise in science and new technology, and Hycel is leading the way,” Professor Martin said.
Minister Tehan said work at the Hydrogen Training Testbed will involve research collaboration between Government, higher education and industry partners, including the City of Warrnambool and Australian Pipelines and Gas Association and Energy Networks Association.
“This exciting new project at Deakin’s Warrnambool Campus is part of our Government’s plan to invest in ideas and innovation in areas of national interest to help power Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19,” Minister Tehan said.
In an Australian-first, Hycel is developing a calendar of training events next year, which will demonstrate safe, expert and nationally consistent approaches to skills building for the emerging hydrogen sector.
The establishment of Hycel is backed by $2 million in Federal Government funding, which was announced by Minister Tehan in December 2019. Fully funded, the Hycel Technology Hub will become a regional hub of hydrogen expertise, where hydrogen technologies are tested, manufactured, and demonstrated at scale, and technicians are trained for the hydrogen jobs of the future.
