CQU Gladstone showcases renewable energy potential to German trade delegation

CQUniversity has showcased Gladstone's potential to establish a world-leading clean energy industry to a German trade delegation, led by the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

The visiting delegation from Germany were part of a special Trade and Investment Queensland activity focused on energy and mining.

Associate Vice-President of the CQUniversity Gladstone campus, Mr Luke Sinclair explained that the delegation provided an opportunity to showcase CQU Gladstone campus facilities and the University's capability in terms of trade training and research within the hydrogen and renewable energy space.

"The CQUniversity Gladstone campus already has significant infrastructure to support trade training within this space, including the Trades Training Centre and the new School of Manufacturing which is nearing completion.

"We are also establishing several key industry partnerships to support the creation of a clean energy ecosystem in the region.

"Hydrogen has the potential to be a game changer for Australia, as well as for Central Queensland, with the industry having the potential to generate billions of dollars annually while also creating thousands of jobs," Mr Sinclair said.

CQUniversity's Chair of Hydrogen and Renewable Energy, Professor Murray Shearer said that hosting international delegations such as this was a positive step forward in establishing a local hydrogen and renewables industry.

"Central Queensland is a region that has many elements that make it very attractive when it comes to creating a clean energy ecosystem, including the Port of Gladstone, the proximity of large industry and weather conditions that are suitable for generating clean energy such as wind and solar.

"CQUniversity has a strong strategy when it comes to renewable training and research that positions us as an objective third-party who can do the work for industry when it comes to identifying, testing and applying innovation and then working collaboratively with them to develop and share knowledge when it comes to making, using and selling clean energy," Professor Shearer said.

"CQUniversity also has plans to establish a Hydrogen Training Centre which will complement existing infrastructure on the Gladstone Marina campus and allow us to increase our research and training outputs including foundation skills, electrolyser operation, instrumentation and process control and advanced manufacturing.

"I welcome ongoing interest from international stakeholders who want to learn more about the region and how CQUniversity can play a part in a clean energy industry in Central Queensland."

Florence Lindhaus, Cluster Manager. Energy, from the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce said that she was impressed by CQUniversity's vision for supporting the development of a clean energy industry in Gladstone and how such an industry would be able to generate, sell and export clean energy to global markets.

"Germany is aiming to fulfil all energy needs with renewable sources by 2035 and we are keen to explore global markets that can help to make that goal possible.

"We are impressed by the infrastructure and strategy being developed in Gladstone and the enormous potential Australia has when it comes to becoming a global producer and exporter of clean energy sources," Ms Lindhaus said.

Jürgen Wallstabe, Senior Cluster Manager, Mining & Resources from the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce said that the close collaboration between the University and industry when it comes to knowledge sharing and workforce development was a great example of collaboration.

"We believe a strong foundation is being built for the sector in Gladstone, whereby CQUniversity is working alongside industry to determine future research, training and workforce requirements, and we are keen to collaborate further," Mr Wallstabe said.

"The alignment of industry planning with research and training delivery is a best practice example of how a sustainable global industry can be developed."