New hydrogen portal ready to capture business expertise

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 today launched an online portal for Toowoomba and Western Downs 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 in the region is estimated to be in the billions of dollars and ensuring as much of that flows to local businesses and their workforce is 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, which will ensure more jobs in communities across Toowoomba and the Western Downs.

CS Energy’s Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant is one the most advanced projects and will take advantage of the portal when construction is expected to begin later this year ahead of its first hydrogen production in 2023.

“Procurement officers in the renewable energy sector will be using the online portal for services and supplies for everything from metal fabrication and heavy transport to plumbing and electrical trades, fencing and PPE.

“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 will help local businesses understand how they can position themselves to take advantage of the 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,” Mr MacManus said.

“It will help ensure that 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 that 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.

“This 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: https://www.tsbesuppliersportal.com.au/render-page/page-hydrogen-capability-mapping