CQUniversity of Australia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Stanwell Corporation, which will see the university taking a lead in the delivery of renewables training, career development and research in Central Queensland.
The partnership and commitment to skills development in the renewables space will underpin Stanwell’s new Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub (FEITH).
The hub, located at the Stanwell Power Station near Rockhampton, will support the acceleration of Queensland’s energy transformation to clean energy.
As part of the agreement, CQUniversity will collaborate with Stanwell on skills, training and technology initiatives focused on hydrogen, renewable energy and storage technology.
In particular, a special focus will be placed on career development, training and upskilling for existing Stanwell staff and other industry workers, as well as enhancing and expanding apprenticeship learning opportunities and interactions with renewable technologies.
The collaboration will also bring about opportunities for community and school engagement in order to increase interest in renewables and encourage a new generation to consider future careers in renewable energy.
Stanwell will also complement CQU’s existing research facilities in the region by providing researcher access to FEITH, enhancing real-world application and demonstration opportunities, and facilitating researcher and industry co-location.
Leaders from CQUniversity and Stanwell met on 8 November 2023 for a collaborative research showcase that aimed to highlight some of the key research projects currently being delivered and planned by the university in relation to renewable energy.
CQUniversity Australia Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Nick Klomp said the hub is set to transform the way energy generation is viewed and has the potential to put the Central Queensland region at the global forefront of renewables R&D, skills and employment, and innovation.
“The facility will provide a tremendous opportunity for Central Queensland to become a leader in not just clean energy production but also in clean energy research, training, and skills development.
“Our researchers will also benefit through deep industry collaboration and co-location, allowing them to work on new innovations that will help to further advance the renewables industry in the region and beyond,” said Professor Klomp.
The size of a shopping centre, the FEITH project is proposed to be delivered in phases, starting with the establishment of common infrastructure and civil works.
Future phases include a skills academy and demonstration centre, where the community can come to learn about new energy technologies.
