Educating Europe’s Hydrogen Workforce: Groningen Hosts Practical Hydrogen Course

Eighteen participants gained hands-on experience with fuel cells and electrolysers during a two-day training at the University of Groningen.

As Europe moves toward a sustainable energy future, hydrogen is emerging as a key energy carrier, creating a growing need for practical training to equip the next generation of specialists with the skills to develop, operate, and maintain hydrogen technologies safely and efficiently.

Fuel cells and electrolysers

The University of Groningen hosted a two-day Fuel Cell and Electrolyser Technology Basics course on 10–11 November 2025, giving eighteen participants—including PhD and Master’s students, engineers, and professionals—hands-on experience with fuel cells and electrolysers. Through practical experiments and demonstrations, participants explored system operation, performance, and safety principles.

The course was organised by the Wubbo Ockels School and the Faculty of Science and Engineering, in collaboration with Deutsche WINDGUARD, PLANET GbR, and Future Solutions, and delivered at the interface of two hydrogen initiatives: HyAcademy and INTERREG NWE Green SKHy, combining European efforts to develop practical hydrogen skills.

Practical experimentation

Led by Professor Robert Steinberger-Wilckens and Dr. Birgit Thoben, the programme combined foundational theory with practical experimentation. Participants investigated key topics such as system performance under load, hydrogen chemistry, safety principles, and material testing, providing direct, hands-on insight into working hydrogen systems.

Green SKHy pilot

This Groningen course was the second prototype training in Green SKHy’s pilot phase. Pilot courses like this are essential for testing, refining, and validating training materials, ensuring they are effective for participants from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. Insights gained from the pilot will support the rollout of five full courses in 2026, aimed at universities, vocational schools, and industry training centres across Europe.

The success of this course highlights the University of Groningen’s expanding role in developing practical hydrogen skills and underscores its commitment to supporting the energy transition through high-quality, hands-on education.