Stanwell partners up to provide free course fuelling Queensland’s hydrogen future

Meandu coal mine owner and Central Queensland hydrogen (CQ- H₂) project consortium partner, Stanwell Corporation, has teamed up with CQUniversity (CQU) and ACCIONA Energía to develop online learning programs for Queensland secondary school students focused on the State’s hydrogen and renewable energy sectors.

The new free courses, under the umbrella name Fuelling a hydrogen future: STEM Skills for Secondary Learning, have been developed in partnership with the Queensland Government for Years 7-12 and aim to build industry-school connections.

Queensland Training and Skills Development Minister Di Farmer says the Queensland Government is investing in the younger generation through the expansion of its Gateway to Industry Skills Program (GISP), which will now include hydrogen.

“Hydrogen GISP captures more than 2000 students across 32 Queensland schools over three years,” she said.

“Now we have gone one step further with online opportunities.

“I’m pleased to see this partnership come together between the Queensland Government and CQUniversity to provide our students with more learning opportunities which could lead to better career options, particularly in emerging industries.”

Stanwell chief executive Michael O’Rourke says the company is committed to working with industry partners across a variety of sectors to help drive the development of Queensland’s hydrogen industry and the use of other new technologies.

“We know the workforce of tomorrow is in the classroom today,” he said.

“Through collaboration with partners like CQU, we are able to leverage our expertise and help create learning pathways for the energy sector leaders of the future.”

ACCIONA Energía general manager of brand and marketing Caroline Bommes says this collaboration allows young people to get a foot in the door in a rapidly growing industry.

“Without renewables there is no green hydrogen and without people there’s no renewables,” she said.

“Programs like these are a step towards getting the workforce that will be needed for the energy transition and capitalising on our green hydrogen opportunity.

“The opportunities for students to undertake these courses can set them on the path for a long-term and secure career in the emerging industry.”

In May this year, Stanwell Corporation announced a new milestone for Queensland’s largest renewable hydrogen project in Gladstone.

The company, along with other CQ- H₂ project consortium partners, commenced the front-end engineering design (FEED) study for the project.

Working with Japanese foundation companies Iwatani Corporation, Kansai Electric Power Company and Marubeni, as well as Singapore-headquartered Keppel Infrastructure, this project represents the largest investment in an Australian renewable hydrogen project of its kind to-date.

The commitment of $117m from government and consortium partners will enable the project to develop a hydrogen production facility, hydrogen gas pipeline and hydrogen liquefaction facility, including the supply of hydrogen to an ammonia production facility.

Mr O’Rourke says the company is “proud to be leading the CQ-H₂ project with [its] partners, which demonstrates [the] commitment to driving the development of Queensland’s hydrogen industry and other new technologies”.

The project aims to deliver renewable hydrogen via its different carriers, to Japan and Singapore, as well as supplying large domestic customers in Central Queensland.

Commercial operations are planned to commence from 2028.