Toowoomba and Western Downs businesses can sign up for opportunities in the emerging hydrogen supply chain thanks to an online portal launched this week.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) launched the portal along with CS Energy, which is developing the Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant.

It will take advantage of the portal when construction is expected to begin later this year ahead of its first hydrogen production in 2023.

State Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said the volume of renewables investment required for the green hydrogen industry in the region was estimated to be in the billions of dollars and it was critical to ensure as much as possible flowed to local businesses and their workforce.

“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 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 would help local businesses understand how to 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.”

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TSBE said IOR was an example of a business set to benefit from using the portal, and there are already many businesses keen to register their capability on the hydrogen portal.

Chinchilla-based business Speciality Services Queensland is keen to get onboard as CS Energy’s demonstration plant in on their doorstep.

“we are excited about the opportunities hydrogen offers our business and the portal is a great place to register our capabilities in working with this future fuel,” managing director Declan Cummins said.

“By completing the hydrogen questionnaire we can be more prepared for these upcoming projects and the skills required in my team.”

Register your business capability here: https://www.tsbesuppliersportal.com.au/render-page/page-hydrogen-capability-mapping