Engineers Australia has launched a suite of hydrogen energy micro-credentials to upskill the engineering workforce and support Australia’s transition to net zero.
The upskilling initiative is being made available through Engineering Education Australia (EEA) and Deakin University.
The collaborative project addresses a severe talent shortage in the hydrogen and engineering sectors, critical to the nation’s clean energy goals.
Supported by funding from the federal government, the project includes four micro-credentials and one webinar:
- Handling Hydrogen for Engineers
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Operation, Safety and Maintenance
- Hydrogen Electrolysers
- Hydrogen in the Built Environment
- Hydrogen and Social Responsibility for Engineers (Webinar)
The training suite aims to bridge knowledge gaps for professionals across energy, transport, planning, water, and government sectors, equipping them with the necessary skills to safely and effectively advance the hydrogen economy.
Head of EEA, Joel Evans, said research shows a severe talent shortage in hydrogen engineering is impacting Australia’s path to net zero.
“These micro-credentials can bridge that gap by equipping engineers with the skills they need,” Evans said.
“Partnering with Deakin University allows us to offer practical, industry-focused education to support the profession’s leading role in Australia’s shift to clean energy.”
The project was initiated in 2022 when researchers from Hycel, Deakin University’s hydrogen technology hub, and the School of Engineering began investigating the knowledge, skills and attributes needed for developing a safe, reliable hydrogen engineering workforce.
Hycel director professor Tiffany Walsh said Deakin is delighted to partner with EEA to upskill engineers for the growing domestic hydrogen economy.
“This builds on Deakin’s track record in hydrogen education, including in primary and secondary schools, with our TAFE partners in vocational training, for emergency response workers, and now for engineers to confidently design, plan, build and operate hydrogen systems,” she said.
The project is now underway and is scheduled for completion by 30 June 2025, providing a timely solution to the urgent need for hydrogen skills development.
Earlier this month, the federal government released the National Hydrogen Strategy, the blueprint for Australia to develop new domestic clean energy manufacturing capabilities and to capitalise on massive export opportunities.
Central to the strategy is the green Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive program, and the expanded green Hydrogen Headstart program, which received $8 billion in this year’s Federal Budget.
Both programs have been designed with industry to most effectively drive economies of scale, accelerate investment, reduce the cost gap and help major projects reach financial close faster.
They are expected to unlock $50 billion in private sector investment and see Australia’s annual domestic production capacity exceed 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
The Strategy anticipates possible annual production targets of 15 million tonnes by 2050, supported by five-yearly milestones.
Australia is already well placed to become a world leader, with the International Energy Agency estimating more than 20 per cent of announced hydrogen projects globally are in Australia, with a pipeline valued at more than $200 billion.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said the strategy sends a clear signal to trading partners about the future marketplace in Australia for hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels.
“We’re already seeing the benefits of this through expanded trading agreements with key partners such as Germany,” he said.