Horizon Educational ‘Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP)’ event hosted in Gladstone as CQ schools battle for poll position
A major school tournament which will harness students’ skills and passion for the industries of the future will have its inaugural event hosted at Gladstone in a major coup for Central Queensland. Here’s when the program, and the major event will take place.
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Central Queensland has won bragging rights as it will host Australia’s first ‘hydrogen Grand Prix’, a school-based event that will inspire tomorrow’s energy experts.
The H2GP program, created and delivered by Horizon Educational, encourages the development of future and emerging skills and provides opportunities for students to enrich their STEM learning by competing with like-minded students from regional to international levels.
The State Government will partner with Central Queensland University and industry partners Stanwell, ABB, Ark Energy and local schools to deliver the innovate program which will kick off this term and culminate in the four-hour race on April 21 next year.
The inaugural H2GP will see 12 teams from seven Central Queensland schools participate in the program and will also welcome teams from schools based in Townsville, southeast Queensland, and Victoria.
Hydrogen Development Assistant Minister, Lance McCallum, made the announcement in Gladstone, earlier this month.
“Through the program, students will gear up to design, build and race hydrogen-powered remote-controlled cars, in turn, teaching them about environmental sustainability, renewable energy and alternative fuels,” Mr McCallum said.
“Programs such as H2GP inspire young Queenslanders to pursue exciting careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM),” he said.
Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher said the recently announced Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan highlighted the government’s commitment to providing the skills needed for Queensland’s clean energy future.
“Gladstone is well on the way to becoming a clean energy powerhouse, and kids we can nurture here, into homegrown hydrogen experts is what bringing this program to Central Queensland is all about,” Mr Butcher said.
“The H2GP delivers on key priorities in the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019-2024, including building community awareness and facilitating skills development for new technologies.”
It comes as Horizon Educational recently established its APAC office in Queensland.
Horizon APAC director Ales Rakovsky said Queensland would be crucial for future energy in the region.
“We recognise the sunshine state as a significant renewable energy hub in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Rakovsky said.
“We look forward to hosting the inaugural Australian H2GP Finals in Gladstone this coming year,” he said.
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