Queensland’s future workforce will be primed to help transform the state into a global hydrogen superpower, with the opening of Australia’s first Hydrogen Centre of Excellence.

The Premier officially opened the $20 million vocational training centre in Beenleigh today in partnership with the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre.

It’s one of four renewable and hydrogen training centres committed to by the Palaszczuk Government which will see apprentices and trainees graduating with skills to meet the needs of our future energy system.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the centre would support more good job opportunities in Queensland’s growing hydrogen sector.

“Queensland is on track to becoming a global hydrogen heavyweight,” the Premier said.

“We recently announced our $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan which will drive our renewable energy transformation.

“This includes developing our hydrogen industry which is expected to grow by $19 billion and create 4,350 jobs by 2040.

“We’re already on our way with 40 hydrogen projects happening across the state.

“And just this week I was in Townsville to announce the North Queensland Super Hub, a partnership between Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) and clean energy operator Windlab, who have plans to produce green hydrogen at an industrial scale.

“But 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.

“We want to deliver Queensland’s energy transformation with our own resources and our own people, which is why we are investing heavily in skills and training.”

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,” Minister de Brenni said.

“There are already 40 hydrogen projects happening across the state, and production is planned to scale up under our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

“The training centre is the direct result of the strong collaboration that exists between the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre partners and the Palaszczuk Government.

“Working with PICAC means our government will ensure we can fast-track the development of the renewable hydrogen industry.”

Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the centre would deliver hundreds of extra apprentices each year.

“The new world-class training centre includes specialised gas training equipment, lower carbon technology upgrades, roof-access work platforms, special hazards fire systems and state-of- the-art training rooms,” Minister Farmer said.

“It will expand training capacity from 700 to 1100 apprenticeships and tradies per year, training workers in fire protection, fire control, plumbing and hydrogen.

“It is vital these skills are developed by trainees and apprentices now, so that we have the workforce to deliver the projects we’ve already got, and the many more in the pipeline.”

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.”

Starting construction in February 2021, the project, led by Hutchinson Builders, committed to employ 70 apprentices and support a total of 100 jobs throughout construction, and exceeded that target by employing over 110 apprentices.

The Palaszczuk Government’s hydrogen commitments:

• $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

ENDS

About PICAC

PICAC is a whole-of-industry collaboration model between the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union, the Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland, the National Fire Industry Association and the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA).