HySUCCESS Bootcamp #1: A Strong Start for a Fair and Sustainable Hydrogen Future

On June 2, 2025, the first HySUCCESS bootcamp took place in Utrecht — bringing together researchers, experts, and students to kick off the project with a full day of learning, collaboration, and new ideas.

HySUCCESS is a national research project focused on understanding how hydrogen can play a role in the energy transition — not just from a technical perspective, but also how it affects people, jobs, rules, and society. The goal is to make hydrogen work in a way that is fair, smart, and widely accepted.

Bootcamp in Action: Talks, Workshops & Collaboration

The day began with a warm welcome and introduction to the goals of the HySUCCESS project. From there, participants took part in a dynamic mix of talks, group sessions, and networking moments — all designed to spark new ideas and build shared understanding across disciplines.

A few highlights:

• Prof. Dr Gert Jan Kramer kicked things off with a powerful talk on the role of hydrogen in the energy transition — and why, despite its promise, the business case isn’t there yet. He called for system-wide change to make it work.
• Dr. Ir. Kenneth Bruninx brought a systems-thinking lens to energy policy and market design, showing how hydrogen and electricity systems are increasingly connected — and why that matters for regulation and investment.
• Prof. Dr Lorenzo Squitani gave an overview of public perception and regulations around hydrogen infrastructure and storage, highlighting both knowledge gaps and legal roadblocks, especially offshore.
• Dr Ron Diris explored how big transitions like this affect jobs and how that, in turn, influences public support — a crucial piece of the puzzle in building an accepted and just energy transition.

In the afternoon, participants rolled up their sleeves for a group model-building workshop. Together, they mapped out the key factors that influence hydrogen’s success in the Netherlands. This shared model will be updated as research continues — acting as a compass for the rest of the project.

Planning Ahead - General Assembly

The bootcamp ended with a General Assembly, where the team reviewed the project timeline, upcoming deliverables, and how they’ll work together with other GroenvermogenNL projects. And of course, the day wrapped up with a well-earned borrel — a Dutch tradition of informal drinks and networking.

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