Victorian Hydrogen Hub
Helping industry and the community get ready for a hydrogen economy.
Led by Swinburne University of Technology in partnership with CSIRO and Germany’s ARENA2036 factory, the Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2) brings together researchers, industry partners and business to drive the implementation of the hydrogen economy.
Funded through the Victorian Government’s Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund, the Victorian Hydrogen Hub is committed to furthering research and development in the hydrogen sector.
Hydrogen is rapidly emerging as a clean fuel and industrial material for the future – one that could make a considerable contribution to global decarbonisation. We're building on our international connections and strengths in design, digitalisation and Industry 4.0 to push the boundaries of what hydrogen can deliver – creating a sustainable future for all.
Our research themes
Through collaboration with our industry partners, the Victorian Hydrogen Hub is researching the capabilities of this energy source and its potential to build a thriving hydrogen economy over the next decade. Our research has featured in publications such as Materials Australia Magazine.
Port decarbonisation
Aviation
Heavy industries
(e.g. steel and ammonia)
Digital applications
Community acceptance
Light and heavy vehicles
Skills, training and education
Storage and pressure vehicles
Hydrogen demonstration
Testing, trialling and demonstrating new and emerging hydrogen technologies will enable the creation of sustainable manufacturing practices and the ability to store clean energy from renewable sources.
Hydrogen refuelling station
A key initiative for VH2 is our partnership with CSIRO. CSIRO has received an A$1 million co-investment in the development of a hydrogen refuelling station to fuel and test hydrogen vehicles at their Clayton campus in Melbourne. Installation is set to take place alongside an integrated hydrogen production and storage demonstration facility.
The refuelling station includes a CSIRO fleet trial of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with a planned hydrogen production capacity of approximately 20 kilograms per day. The facility is anticipated to be operational in the second half of 2022.
In May 2021, CSIRO announced an arrangement with Toyota to lease their Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle to be used for testing at the refuelling station.
For more information about the hydrogen refuelling station, please email CSIROenquiries@csiro.au.
Hydrogen tanks and storage
At the University of Stuttgart’s ARENA2036 in Germany, the Institute for Aircraft Design will analyse existing hydrogen tank structures in passenger vehicles and extract a generic hydrogen tank structure. A new design proposal will be developed to create and validate a carbon fibre hydrogen storage vessel based on improved design methods. These demonstrators will be manufactured using robotic winding technology with new tow-peg systems designed according to the layout.
Developing and testing hydrogen storage and transport systems is a key activity for both the Victorian Hydrogen Hub and Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIRHub). The Victorian Hydrogen Hub and AIRHub are collaborating to research and develop capacity for international hydrogen storage on aircraft and eVTOL vehicles. The demonstration facilities in Germany will be used to gain a wider understanding of hydrogen as a fuel for industry, business and the community.
Working with industry and the community
Many organisations are beginning to consider the role hydrogen will play in decarbonising our economy and how business can effectively capitalise on this opportunity.
Victorian Hydrogen Hub researchers are available to work with industry in a variety of ways, including:
- provision of world-class research to support hydrogen-related projects alongside our research fellows, PhD and master students
- access to PhD interns who can work directly with organisations on identified hydrogen projects over a three to six-month period
- facilitation of workshops using problem solving frameworks that enable organisations to test hydrogen-related ideas
- participation in our Hydrogen Readiness Program, which provides businesses with comprehensive knowledge to prepare them for a hydrogen economy
- access to our Skills Road Map research, which investigates the skills and training needs for Australian industry and supply chain
Skills Road Map
A major initiative undertaken by the Victorian Hydrogen Hub is the development of a Hydrogen Skills Road Map report. This is a critical evaluation of the significant training and skills requirements needed to inform the development and educational needs of a hydrogen industry.
The report details the jobs impacted, and the skills required for the burgeoning hydrogen sector while collating existing education and training in Australia and overseas. Train the trainer courses, trades courses, school curriculum, micro-credentials, higher education and industry engagement programs are all key in skilling a competent workforce for Australia. Other recommendations are also included in this broad and detailed report.
Creating a strong hydrogen workforce
We worked with some with the nation's experts to develop our Hydrogen Skills Roadmap, which provides insight into the current and future skills and training needs that the Australian hydrogen industry will need to prosper. Find out more.
Hydrogen Skills Roadmap
Marco Quaranta from IVECO Trucks spoke to hydrogen skills at the launch of the Victorian Hydrogen Hub's Hydrogen Skills Roadmap. See what some of our advisory council members think about the Hydrogen Skills Roadmap.
Other examples of our work
The Victorian Hydrogen Hub has secured over 14 industry partnerships, comprising the most active players in the Australian hydrogen sector such as ARUP, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), BOC and IVECO to name a few.
Our key projects with industry partners include:
- study into the total cost of ownership (TCO) for hydrogen vehicles
- evaluation of a full supply chain simulation for hydrogen vehicles
- systemic review on the application of hydrogen in steel manufacturing
- investigation on the impact of hydrogen direct reduced iron (DRI) on melting in an electric furnace
- assessment on community acceptance of hydrogen for electrolyser projects
- modelling and site selection for an ASX-listed company looking to establish a hydrogen producing site
- technoeconomic analysis of a major hydrogen infrastructure study
- scoping workshops and research for a leading port operator.
Our industry contacts extend globally. The Victorian Hydrogen Hub has developed international partnerships through a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Sarawak, Malaysia and the NEXT Group, Korea. We have also established a partnership with R&D organisations in Germany.
For more information, please email vichydrogenhub@swinburne.edu.au.
The Victorian Hydrogen Hub’s Hydrogen Readiness Program provides businesses with comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge about the hydrogen economy in a systematic and holistic way.
Through webinars, in-person discovery workshops and networking opportunities, we’re helping businesses across all industries think differently about the challenges and opportunities associated with hydrogen – preparing them to transition to a hydrogen economy.
Throughout these interactive sessions, participants will engage in a powerful combination of practical exercises including case studies and Q&As to absorb in-depth information from our world-class researchers in a short period. Topics include:
- Demystifying hydrogen
- The demand side of hydrogen
- The supply side of the equation
- Social licensing and communication
To discover how you can participate in the program, please email vichydrogenhub@swinburne.edu.au.
Academic and government research reveals a widespread lack of knowledge around hydrogen, its properties and its uses. Broader interest in hydrogen has increased significantly over the past few years, which poses substantial implications for households and small businesses as the hydrogen economy develops.
Despite the significance of hydrogen and the impacts it may have on the lives of energy consumers, barriers to accessible educational and informational materials persist. To combat this, we have run five interactive webinars in 2022, reaching over 1,700 audiences. The webinars include:
- Advancing hydrogen in mobility with Engineers Australia
- What is green hydrogen?
- Manufacturing Futures Forum: VH2 making hydrogen a reality
- Developing a green hydrogen economy in Australia
- Decarbonising steel industries using hydrogen energy
The Victorian Hydrogen Hub is committed to boosting public understanding and community engagement in order to advance a hydrogen economy. We are currently working with industry, PhD, master and undergraduate students to research:
- the use of information technology to make hydrogen technology demonstrators widely available and accessible
- stakeholders’ views to identify their hydrogen information needs and to support Australian public’s capacity in making informed decisions about hydrogen
- the inclusion of and equity for vulnerable energy customers impacted by hydrogen blending
- public understanding of different hydrogen generation technologies (e.g. green, grey and blue hydrogen)
- public acceptance of hydrogen and its contingency on the underpinning generation technology
On 6 April 2022, Research Fellow Dr Kim Beasy presented on hydrogen technologies to Year 11 and 12 students at Hobart College. The discussion on how green hydrogen would feature in Australia's agenda of reducing emissions and transitioning to renewable energies was important in building an appetite among young people for working in and with hydrogen technologies.
We are also connecting with younger audiences as the next generation is crucial in preparing for the hydrogen economy. People aged 18 to 24 – the main age group among Swinburne students – will be instrumental in creating sustainable manufacturing practices and storing clean energy from renewable sources in their future jobs.
To engage with this segment, the Victorian Hydrogen Hub has participated in activities such as Swinburne's Welcome Back Week – a two-day in-person event to engage with current and prospective students to excite this next generation about the future of hydrogen.
We shared how hydrogen could be used to power vehicles, toys and barbecues. The CSIRO hydrogen vehicle was displayed with a CSIRO representative on hand to answer questions. We also conducted interview to gauge the public perception of hydrogen vehicles.
For more information, please email vichydrogenhub@swinburne.edu.au.
The Victorian Hydrogen Hub is focused on supporting industry in the exploration and implementation of a decarbonised future. Through our student engagement programs, our talented students assist businesses in their transition to a hydrogen economy by discovering and leveraging new opportunities in the renewables and hydrogen markets.
These comprehensive student engagement programs include:
- hydrogen-related projects supported by our PhD, Masters students and Research Fellows
- access to PhD interns who work directly with organisations on identified hydrogen projects over a three to six-month period
- Professional Placements for our Bachelor degree students over a six or 12-month period
- short-term (12-week) accreditation placements for Bachelor of Engineering students
For more information, please email vichydrogenhub@swinburne.edu.au.
Want to learn more about hydrogen?
The Victorian Hydrogen Hub runs lectures, webinars and forums on timely topics such as green hydrogen economy, hydrogen readiness and emerging hydrogen technologies presented by various experts.
Stay up to date with the Victorian Hydrogen Hub
Our highlights
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Exploring international opportunities
Swinburne has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sarawak Government in Malaysia to develop their hydrogen economy.
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The hydrogen-powered car is alive
Demand for hydrogen fuel cell cars increased by 84 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020, when 8,400 fuel cell vehicles found new owners.
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Hy Resource
A collaborative knowledge sharing resource supporting the development of Australia’s hydrogen industry
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"ARUP saw the potential to align our real-world industry delivery with the VH2 goals of skills development. Together we are investigating the infrastructure needs of the Australian hydrogen economy through key modelling and analysis. "
Patrick Gorr , Principle, Infrastructure, ARUP
Our people
Our events
Other initiatives
These initiatives are funded through the Victorian government's Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.
Looking for more information?
Whatever your query is, get in touch with us on vichydrogenhub@swinburne.edu.au.