Queensland’s accelerating hydrogen industry is open for business in Toowoomba and the Western Downs.
CS Energy and Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) have launched an online portal for local businesses to sign up for opportunities in the emerging hydrogen supply chain.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said the volume of renewables investment required for the green hydrogen industry was estimated to be billions of dollars.
He said ensuring as much of that flowed to local businesses and their workforce was critical.
“Developing Queensland’s hydrogen industry will create demand across a range of local service and manufacturing sectors if we get the supply chain right,” Mr de Brenni said.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s Buy Queensland procurement approach applies to renewable energy projects, with a focus on local content, ensuring more jobs in local communities.”
CS Energy’s Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant will take advantage of the portal when construction begins later this year ahead of its first hydrogen production in 2023.
“Procurement officers in the renewable energy sector will use the online portal for everything from metal fabrication and heavy transport to plumbing, fencing and PPE,” Mr de Brenni said.
“That equals more jobs in more regional industry in areas like Toowoomba and the Western Downs.”
The online Hydrogen Capability Mapping portal is live and ready for businesses to complete a questionnaire about their ability to support the hydrogen industry supply chain.
TSBE general manager for Energy and Infrastructure Lance MacManus said the portal would help local businesses learn how they could exploit opportunities in upcoming hydrogen projects.
“A component of the partnership is to map and uncover the capability of local businesses to support a hydrogen construction development in design, construction or operations and maintenance,” he said.
“It will help ensure local companies can bring their existing expertise in the industrial sector and are able to understand the opportunities around hydrogen and develop their capability to service this growing market.”
CS Energy CEO Andrew Bills said CS Energy was excited the mapping project was live and ready to help in the hunt for hydrogen skills.
“Upon completion, this mapping process will provide CS Energy with extensive information on regional businesses and their capability,” Mr Bills said.
“Local business ‘intel’ will be invaluable as we progress the Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant.
“This is the next chapter of our energy story in the Surat Basin as we bring hydrogen into our energy mix and create a future energy hub at Kogan Creek Power Station.”
Register your business capability here: www.tsbesuppliersportal.com.au/render-page/page-hydrogen-capability-mapping
