Video: Building an industry from scratch - lessons for hydrogen from the father of CSG

Richard Cottee is considered the father of CSG in Australia, most famous for taking QGC from a near-bankrupt minnow to an export powerhouse that was sold to BG Group for $5.8bn.

Similar to hydrogen (which businesses he is involved in today are exploring), CSG was an unproven, fledgling industry in the early 2000’s. In a recent speech at the Australian Hydrogen Forum, Richard provides the big lessons he learnt in the process over growing QGC, and shares his advice for all those looking to be build a new hydrogen economy.

Without a doubt, building a social license and bringing communities along; “if you are going to be a disruptor in the energy industry. Don’t forget the locals” – he says.

Though he also comments on many other challenges, including the need to “combine altruistic instincts with capitalist greed” in order to ensure projects are viable.

Watch his presentation if you want his views on:

• Overcoming the barriers of entry in the energy sector
• Creating a collaborative hydrogen market and avoiding replicating infrastructure
• Accounting for social license and changes in public sentiment towards development
• Adopting a flexible approach rather than rigid pay commitments and secured cash flow (as demanded by the early liquefied natural gas industry)

“It’s not easy to create a new industry. … It does require a high degree of lateral thinking, a bit of humour and a lot of collaboration with the local community”.