Project objectives
CQ-H2 is uniquely placed to realise three objectives for Queensland, Australia and its key trading partners:
1. Domestic decarbonisation of hard-to-abate, value-adding, trade-exposed industries.
2. Economic transition for Central Queensland to create long-term jobs and prosperity in a net zero economy.
3. Creating a new export industry for Australia to generate revenue and support the decarbonisation of key trading partners.
Each of these macro objectives will also result in significant opportunities for local communities in the form of jobs and local business procurement.
Project animation
There is great interest in learning more about renewable hydrogen and our project. To make it easier for everyone, we have created a short, animated video.
Project value chain
We are working with domestic and international partners across the hydrogen supply chain to develop CQ-H2.
Domestic decarbonisation
Central Queensland is an important industrial hub, hosting several of Australia’s strategic value-adding and export-exposed industries which supply products to domestic and export markets.
As demand for lower carbon products grows, these industries need to reduce carbon emissions.
While using renewable energy directly is the first option for reducing emissions, some industrial processes cannot be fully electrified – these industries require a low-carbon fuel or feedstock like renewable hydrogen.
These industries include ammonia, alumina and iron, which have been identified as the most strategic industries for Australia’s hydrogen policy.
CQ-H2 will play a critical role in Australia’s journey to net-zero emissions, offering a pathway to decarbonisation for these hard-to-abate sectors.
The CQ-H2 project aims to supply renewable hydrogen to industries like ammonia production and green iron, reducing carbon emissions.
Economic transition in Central Queensland
CQ-H2 will support Central Queensland’s economic transition by helping existing industries reduce emissions and creating new job opportunities in the hydrogen supply chain and related industries.
Central Queensland’s economic and employment base includes several emissions-intensive industries that are impacted as the global economy transitions to net zero emissions.
CQ-H2 can play a critical part in Central Queensland’s economic transition by helping existing and new industries successfully transition to lower carbon emissions, maintaining competitiveness.
At its peak, CQ-H2 will support thousands of jobs in Central Queensland. Over its operational life, the project will support an annual average of over 1,000 additional direct and indirect jobs, and grow Central Queensland’s economy by $8.9 billion.
New low carbon export industry
Gladstone and Central Queensland is a key energy supplier to major trading partners who now seek low carbon energy and green products.
Several of Australia’s key trading partners require clean hydrogen to decarbonise their economies and this creates a significant opportunity for Australia.
CQ-H2's international consortium aims to establish a clean energy export industry utilising the Port of Gladstone and the region’s high quality wind and solar resources.
The CQ-H2 consortium provides direct and early access into strategic Asian markets such as Japan and Singapore.
CQ-H2 will deliver around $14.5 billion in exports and $9 billion in foreign direct investment, positioning Queensland and Australia as leaders in the global energy transition.