Darren Hickey

Darren Hickey serves as the Vice President of Fuel Cell Technology at Upstart Power, Inc., a company specializing in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies. He joined Upstart Power in February 2022, where he leads the development and innovation of new SOFC technologies for the company's product line, particularly its Upgen™ portfolio designed for residential and industrial applications.12

Professional Background

Darren has a robust background in the energy sector, with over 25 years of experience focusing on fuel cell technology and energy storage. Before his tenure at Upstart Power, he was the Director of Fuel Cell Technology at Cummins Inc. from 2018 to 2021, where he led teams in developing heavy-duty fuel cells and managed multiple projects funded by the Department of Energy (DOE).12

His earlier roles include significant positions at General Electric (GE), where he worked as a Product Design Leader and Principal Engineer, contributing to the development of high-efficiency SOFC systems. Additionally, he co-founded EnerVault Corporation, where he was instrumental in scaling up innovative stack technology for flow battery systems.123

Education

Darren holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Mechanical & Manufacturing from the University of Melbourne (1989-1992) and a Master of Science (MS) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arizona (2000-2002)【1】【2】.

Key Contributions

Throughout his career, Darren has been involved in pioneering projects within the fuel cell sector:

• At Bloom Energy, he was part of the founding team and contributed to building the company's first prototype stack.
• He also worked at Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited, leading advanced product development for solid oxide fuel cell stacks【1】【2】.

Darren Hickey is recognized for his leadership and innovative approach within the renewable energy field, particularly in advancing fuel cell technologies that support sustainable energy solutions【1】【2】【5】.