Redland City Council will look at options to integrate a renewable hydrogen production facility at one of its wastewater treatment plants.
Mayor Karen Williams said the decision could pave the way for a renewable hydrogen economy which could provide significant benefits and opportunities for the city.
"Providing cheaper, greener power for locals through renewable hydrogen is an exciting prospect," she said.
Cr Williams hoped the development of a renewable hydrogen economy would also attract and diversify businesses within the city.
"The integration of hydrogen production at a wastewater treatment plant would see treated water turned into clean energy, a process which has the potential to reduce carbon emissions in our Redlands Coast while at the same time reducing council's operational costs," she said.
Cr Williams said there was potential in the Redlands for hydrogen-based buses and ferries, provide backup power supplies (especially for our island communities), and eventually homes also being supplied with emissions-free power.
Council's interest in renewable hydrogen began two years ago when it supported a renewable hydrogen pilot facility being developed at the local Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Redlands Research Centre.
It led to a hydrogen roundtable in November last year where the opportunities council had identified were confirmed as realistic and achievable.
"We will now look at external funding options for the preparation of a business case for a pilot plant at our wastewater treatment facility, and further investigate the partnerships needed to make it happen.
"We understand there are challenges but, based on discussions with industry experts, the benefits for Redlands Coast could be significant," she said.
Earlier this year Oodgeroo candidate Claire Richardson presented a scoping study for the Minjerribah community-owned renewable energy project to QYAC.
Ms Richardson said the proposal was to use renewable sources and innovative storage systems to make North Stradbroke Island energy self-sufficient.