BEENLEIGH is set to be the focal point for training as Queensland bumps up its hydrogen capacity.
It is home to Australia’s first Hydrogen Centre of Excellence, which was announced in February and officially opened last week by premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The $20 million facility is one of four hydrogen training centres around the state, and will see apprentices and trainees graduating with skills to meet the needs of a future energy system.
It is expected there will be 4350 jobs in the industry by 2040.
“We’re already on our way with 40 hydrogen projects happening across the state,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“… to realise the full economic potential of our energy transformation, we need to invest in our workforce – and this new $20 million training centre does that.”
Treasurer Cameron Dick said the energy transformation provided Queensland with a once-in-a-generation jobs opportunity.
“Our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan will support 100,000 new jobs, the majority of which will be in regional Queensland,” the Treasurer said.
“Queensland has the natural resources, the ports, the workforce and the skills to become a global leader in the emerging green hydrogen industry, which will be good for Queensland’s economy.”
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said the new facility would leverage partnerships to help supercharge the hydrogen industry in Queensland by delivering a skilled workforce.
“This partnership demonstrates how working together with industry, unions and government, we can deliver a world-class workforce in Queensland,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Working with PICAC means our government will ensure we can fast-track the development of the renewable hydrogen industry.”
Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre chief executive Shayne La Combre said the centre was critical for the industry.
“This world-leading centre is a great example of industry working together to equip apprentices with the skills needed for jobs now and into the future,” Mr La Combre said.
“Never have the skills of those working in our energy industries been so critical to the economic future here in Queensland and Australia.”
“This centre will ensure apprentices and those working in the industry receive high quality training to prepare them for jobs in new and emerging industries like hydrogen.”
State government hydrogen commitments include:
- $4.5 billion for the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund
- $50 million to develop four state-of-the-art renewable and hydrogen training centres including:
- $10.6 million is going towards building a hydrogen and renewable energy training facility at the Bohle Trade Training TAFE in Townsville.
- $2 million to upgrade facilities at Gladstone State High School to prepare students for hydrogen jobs, and $4 million for an energy training and skills strategy.
- $15 million to supercharge, coordinate and further plan for renewable hydrogen hubs in key locations across the state
Federally funded hydrogen hubs:
- $71.9 million for the development of a hydrogen hub in Townsville
- $69 million that was confirmed for the Central Queensland Hydrogen Hub in Gladstone
