Qld gov’t bolsters hydrogen supply chain with new online supplier portal

The Queensland Government is on the hunt to find the hydrogen skills and local businesses to join the renewable fuel supply chain that will create jobs in Toowoomba and the Western Downs.

Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni announced a partnership between publicly-owned power generator CS Energy and Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise to increase local participation in the hydrogen industry.

The six month project will map and uncover the capability and potential of local businesses to support a hydrogen supply chain, creating a new online supplier portal.

“This online tool will provide valuable information on local capability and identify opportunities for local businesses in the supply chain allowing them to upskill, as well as attract new organisations to the region,” de Brenni said.

“Hydrogen presents an incredible opportunity in Queensland to create jobs and decarbonise our economy. Support for renewables like hydrogen is a key part of the Palaszczuk Government’s plan for economic recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

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The project follows the Palaszczuk Government’s $2 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund announced in the State Budget.

“Our Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019-2024 is focussed on developing Queensland’s hydrogen industry to create jobs, including investing in four training centres that would skill up a hydrogen workforce – $20M towards Stage 2 of the Queensland Apprenticeships Centre at Beenleigh, $10.6M for a Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training facility at Bohle TAFE campus in Townsville, $17M towards the Pinkenba Renewable Energy Training Facility and $2M to upgrade training facilities at Gladstone State High School,” de Brenni revealed.

TSBE CEO Ali Davenport said the online portal project would set a high benchmark for other projects and industries.

“This mapping project will collect data to help us get a big picture view of local capability and provide information that will open the door for further discussions around training and upskilling for the future,” Davenport said.

“It will help ensure that local companies are able to understand the opportunities around hydrogen and develop their capability to service this growing market,” she said.

CS Energy CEO Andrew Bills said CS Energy is providing funding and in-kind support towards the TSBE project, which is expected to be completed in six months.

“Upon completion, the comprehensive mapping process will provide CS Energy with extensive information on regional businesses and their capability,” Bills said.

“As we prepare to progress our hydrogen demonstration project proposal to the next stage, this local business ‘intel’ will be invaluable,” he said.