Construction has commenced on New South Wales’ first Hydrogen Centre of Excellence, a major new training hub in Sydney that will prepare more than 8,000 plumbers and gasfitters for roles in Australia’s emerging hydrogen sector.

The Glenwood‑based facility is backed by $25 million in state funding, first announced during the 2023 NSW election as part of Labor’s commitment to develop the centre in partnership with the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC).

According to the NSW Government, the centre will train 8,250 workers in its first five years, using purpose‑built workshops equipped with hydrogen technologies, including electrolysers.

Supporting Australia’s Growing Hydrogen Economy

While hydrogen in Australia is currently used primarily as an industrial feedstock, government investment and large‑scale private sector projects are accelerating the development of a green hydrogen export industry.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the centre plays a critical role in supporting workforce readiness as the industry transitions.

“This Centre will help prepare the plumbers and gasfitters who will work with hydrogen as the technology develops,” Minns said.

“It means long-term jobs, high-quality training, and a pipeline of local workers ready to support the shift to cleaner energy.”

Opening Date Pushed to 2027

When first announced, the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence was expected to open in 2026, but the operational date has shifted to 2027. The design was only revealed in July 2025, and questions have been raised about whether the training should be delivered through TAFE.

Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations Mark Buttigieg addressed the issue in NSW Parliament earlier this year.

“The intention is not to supplant TAFE; it is to fill the gap in TAFE’s capacity, of which it has been denuded over the past 10 years under previous governments,” Buttigieg said.

“There is a gap in the ability of TAFE to provide this training… We are using private providers to step into that space until we can bring TAFE up to speed. It is certainly not the intention to supplant TAFE.”

National Momentum for Hydrogen Skills

The NSW hub follows a similar Queensland initiative launched in 2022, also in partnership with PICAC, supported by a $20 million investment.

With construction now underway, the NSW Hydrogen Centre of Excellence is positioned to play a pivotal role in developing the skilled workforce required for hydrogen‑ready infrastructure, industrial processes and future export opportunities.

Source: InnovationAus.com
 

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