CQUniversity helping develop the future of hydrogen in Gladstone
CQUniversity is establishing a new hydrogen research facility in Gladstone that will help advance technologies needed to store, transport and use hydrogen as a future clean energy source.
The three-year project is bringing together researchers, industry partners and government organisations to create a unique testing environment where every stage of the hydrogen journey can be studied in one location.
Funded through the Future Energy Exports CRC and supported by a range of university and industry partners, the project will help researchers better understand how hydrogen can be produced, converted into liquid form, stored safely and used to generate power.
CQUniversity Centre for Sustainable Energy leader in Industrial Decarbonisation and Energy Infrastructure and project lead Dr Saif Al Ghafri said the facility would strengthen Gladstone's growing reputation as a hub for hydrogen innovation.
"Hydrogen has the potential to play an important role in Australia's future energy mix, but there is still work to be done to improve how it is stored, transported and used," Dr Al Ghafri said.
"This facility will give researchers the tools to test new technologies, solve engineering challenges and support the development of future hydrogen industries."
A major focus of the project is liquid hydrogen, which takes up much less space than hydrogen gas and can be more practical to transport over long distances.
Researchers are currently designing and modelling the facility, with a significant milestone expected in early 2027 when the team aims to successfully convert hydrogen gas into liquid hydrogen for the first time at the Gladstone site.
Once operational, the facility will allow researchers to test materials and equipment in extremely cold temperatures, improve hydrogen safety monitoring systems and investigate technologies that may support future industries, including hydrogen-powered aviation.
The project combines hands-on testing with advanced computer modelling, allowing researchers to better understand how hydrogen systems perform and how they can be improved before being scaled up for industry.
Centre for Sustainable Energy Director Professor Jonathan Love said the project would help build the knowledge and capability needed to support Australia's emerging hydrogen industry.
"Hydrogen has enormous potential as a future renewable critical molecule for the chemical, metal, minerals and clean energy industries, but unlocking that potential requires ongoing research, testing and innovation," Prof Love said.
"This facility will give CQUniversity a unique capability to investigate how hydrogen can be liquefied, stored, transported and used, all within one integrated research environment."
"By developing this expertise in Gladstone, we're helping build the knowledge, skills and partnerships needed to support industrial decarbonisation and hydrogen energy infrastructure."
By bringing these capabilities together in one location, the facility will support innovation, attract research partnerships, support workforce development and help build knowledge that could contribute to Australia's emerging hydrogen industry.
