Port of Newcastle is engaging local high school students in a sustainability challenge through the Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP).
Backed by both Australian and New South Wales governments and key industry partners, this initiative is part of the Port’s Clean Energy Precinct. The event invites Hunter region students to design and race hydrogen-powered remote-controlled cars, aligning them with over 8,000 students globally participating in clean energy readiness.
The competition is coordinated by Horizon Education and supported by Port of Newcastle, focusing on instilling students with knowledge of alternative fuels and renewable energy. These budding engineers will work in teams to create their vehicles, ultimately testing them in a four-hour endurance race. The top performers will move forward to compete at state, national, and international levels. This program seeks to inspire young minds toward careers in clean energy and sustainability.
According to Craig Carmody, Port of Newcastle’s CEO, the initiative was inspired by global exposure at the World Hydrogen Summit. With a vision to establish the Port as the country’s largest energy export hub, the Clean Energy Precinct aims to diversify the regional economy. It is projected to generate $4.2 billion for the national economy and create 5,800 jobs in the Hunter Region by 2040.
Local schools, including Warners Bay High School and Callaghan College Waratah Campus, are among the participants. Tim Crakanthorp, State Member for Newcastle, highlights the program’s potential to mold the next generation of clean energy thinkers who are foundational to Newcastle’s sustainable future. Such educational collaborations are fundamental in cultivating a skilled future workforce for the evolving energy landscape.
The Hydrogen Grand Prix doesn’t just offer students an exciting competitive platform; it sets the stage for them to contribute to a sustainable world actively.
