Australia’s former Chief Scientist named chair of Hysata’s Global Advisory Council
Hysata has today welcomed Dr Alan Finkel AC as Chair of the company’s new Global Advisory Council where he will counsel Hysata on bringing its technology to market.
Dr Finkel is Australia’s former Chief Scientist, a role in which he spearheaded the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy and the independent review into the future of the National Electricity Market. A spin-out of University of Wollongong, Hysata is aiming to deliver the world’s lowest cost green hydrogen with its high-efficiency electrolyser.
Dr Finkel is perfectly placed to advise having served as Special Adviser to the Australian Government on Low Emissions Technology where he was instrumental in establishing seven key international partnerships to accelerate the development and deployment of low emissions technologies. He was also Chair of the Technology Investment Advisory Council which provided advice to government on low emissions technology investment priorities.
Dr Finkel will hand-pick a team of international experts in science, technology and policy to make up the remaining council positions. The council will be tasked with providing input into Hysata’s strategy for delivering its electrolyser globally into multiple customer segments including steelmaking, heavy transport, and the chemical industry.
“Green hydrogen fills the gaps where electricity falls short,” said Dr Finkel. “It could be in transport to power trains and trucks and long-distance aeroplanes, or it could be as a chemical to replace metallurgical coal in steelmaking and fertiliser production.”
“The challenge is to minimise the waste when using precious renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen. The reason I am so excited by Hysata is that they have the highest efficiency electrolyser design and an expert team to take it to commercial reality,” Dr Finkel concluded.
It’s another major announcement for Hysata, which recently secured support from renowned global investors in its oversubscribed Series A funding round of $42.5 million AUD. Hysata have also been newly awarded $1.5 million in funding from the NSW Government's Clean Technology Research and Development grants program.
