Queensland students race to a renewable future
Gladstone is once again set to host the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP), a school-based science and engineering program nurturing the talent of the world’s future renewable energy leaders.
The four-hour race will be held at the Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre on Thursday, 16 May 2024 and will be delivered by Horizon Educational and CQUniversity Australia with the support of several industry and government partners.
This year’s H2GP will see 20 teams and more than 150 students from high schools in Biloela, Calliope, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Tannum Sands and Yeppoon put their renewable energy engineering skills to the test, racing their self-built 1:10-scale hydrogen-powered cars over a four-hour ‘endurance race’.
The H2GP final will be the culmination of a six-month-long STEM education program in which students have worked with industry mentors to design, engineer and construct their very own hydrogen-powered cars.
The winner of the race will be lucky enough to advance to the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix World Final, to be held in September in Los Angeles, USA.
Kamil Jelinek, CEO of Horizon Educational said after the success of the inaugural event in 2023, bringing the Hydrogen Grand Prix back to Central Queensland was an obvious choice given region’s linkages with industry and need for future workers with renewable energy and engineering skills.
“While students design, engineer and construct their 1:10-scale hydrogen-powered cars today - tomorrow they’ll be fuelling innovation, creating the electrolysers, solar panels and wind turbines that will power Australia for decades to come,” he said.
“We learned last year from our industry supporters that Central Queensland is prioritising these skills for future workforces and Horizon Educational is proud to play a part in supporting this vision.”
Assistant Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Julieanne Gilbert said: “We’re thrilled to support this internationally renowned program in Central Queensland. As well as having fun through the design process, students have also used their technical and teamwork skills, while learning valuable lessons about environmental sustainability, renewable energy, alternative fuels and future technology.
“STEM careers will make up many of Queensland’s future jobs, with many of them in the Central Queensland.
"Gladstone’s Hydrogen Park will be the first location in Queensland where hydrogen is blended with natural gas and delivered to domestic and commercial customers.
“Fortescue Future Industries’ Green Energy Manufacturing Centre and the CQ-H2 Central Queensland renewable hydrogen project mean today’s STEM students can see themselves in an emerging hydrogen industry.
”This is in no small part due to the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019-2024, focussed on building community awareness and delivering the training and skills that will be needed for Queensland’s clean energy future.
“The Central Queensland region is well on the way to becoming a clean energy powerhouse, so it is vital that we start nurturing homegrown experts in this sector now.”
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing, and Member for Gladstone, Glenn Butcher said it was exciting to see the return of the H2GP event in Gladstone, which will continue to get students interested in a career in the renewables sector.
“Programs such as H2GP inspire young people to pursue exciting careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)," Mr Butcher said.
“STEM careers will make up many of Queensland’s future jobs, supporting better services and great lifestyles in the years to come.
“We’ve seen some major renewables announcements in Gladstone recently like Fortescue’s Hydrogen Electrolyser Manufacturing facility and Acciona’s Solar Farm.
“It is so important we continue to nurture and upskill a new generation of energy experts, through programs like these.”
H2GP event organiser and CQUniversity’s Project Manager for the CQ Hydrogen Community Hub Dr Cal Devney said Central Queensland had a strong history when it came to industry development and innovation and the hydrogen and renewables sector represents a promising opportunity for the region to realise future growth and become a world-leading region in this space.
“CQUniversity is proud to work with Horizon Educational, the Queensland Government and local industry to engage a new generation of leaders and equip them with new skills and knowledge,” Dr Devney said.
Stanwell Corporation Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Rourke said Stanwell was proud of its role contributing to Queensland’s energy and economic transformation.
"A key component of our strategy is to drive the development of Queensland’s hydrogen industry," Mr O'Rourke said.
“Stanwell is delighted to support the development of Queensland’s next generation of renewable energy leaders through initiatives like the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix.
“By fostering a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, we are accelerating the wheels of innovation and investing in a brighter and more sustainable future.”
The 2024 Central Queensland Horizon H2GP is being made possible thanks to the support of the Department of State Development and Infrastructure for the statewide program, CQUniversity, Stanwell Corporation, Fortescue, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, Gladstone Ports Corporation, Rio Tinto Yarwun, Boyne Smelter, Inglis Consulting, Calliope Rotary Club, Alpha HPA, Gladstone Regional Council, Gladstone Engineering Alliance, Gladstone Area Water Board, Asset Management Australia, High Risk Solutions and Orica.
As well as the H2GP, CQUniversity and the Queensland Government are also supporting high school students across Queensland to enrol in online courses to help them prepare for careers in the emerging hydrogen industry.
The program known as Fuelling a Hydrogen Future: STEM Skills for Secondary Learning, was funded by the Queensland Government and developed by CQUniversity Australia with support from industry partners Stanwell Corporation and ACCIONA Energía.
The micro-credential courses are open for enrolment now and have been developed specifically for Years 7 – 10 and Years 11 – 12.
Students, teachers or parents wanting to register or find out more about the courses can visit Fuelling a Hydrogen Future: STEM Skills - CQUniversity.
