H2 Knowledge & Innovation Hub

Northern Netherlands is Europe’s first Hydrogen Valley. The region is at the forefront of developing hydrogen and green molecules as sustainable energy carriers. However, for their further development and application, well-trained professionals and accessible facilities for learning, testing, and innovation are essential.

That is exactly what the H₂ Knowledge & Innovation Hub (H₂ K&I Hub) stands for. This project brings together universities, universities of applied sciences, vocational education institutions, research institutes, and industry in one shared mission: to further develop Northern Netherlands into the leading center for knowledge and innovation in the field of green molecules.

Why this project?

The energy transition requires vast numbers of technicians, engineers, and researchers. However, because the transition is developing at such a rapid pace, a skills gap is at risk of emerging. At the same time, testing and training facilities in the region are fragmented: spread across different locations, each with its own specialization, and often insufficiently connected. As a result, companies—particularly SMEs—do not always know where to go.

The H₂ K&I Hub addresses this. By bringing together existing facilities, adding new equipment and labs, and creating a single point of entry where everyone can go, we are accelerating the energy transition.

The project is structured around three pillars:

1. Collaboration and a single point of entry
We are establishing a professional implementation organization that connects all testing and training locations. Through a “menu,” companies and students can easily access a clear overview of all available facilities, courses, and testing opportunities. No more searching across different institutions, but one clear overview.

2. Investing in facilities
The physical infrastructure will be significantly strengthened at three central locations:

• Energiehub050 in Groningen — New practical training spaces for hydrogen (H₂ lab) and biogas, including an interactive digital learning module. Here, vocational (MBO) students and professionals learn to work hands-on with the technology of tomorrow. At Noorderpoort Energy & Maritime in Delfzijl, three additional practical training spaces will also be realized: a basic H₂ lab, a basic battery lab, and a basic biogas digester lab.
• Entrance – Centre of Expertise Energy in Groningen — The test environment of Entrance, the Centre of Expertise Energy of Hanze, will be expanded with advanced electrolysers and pilot-scale production facilities. Here, researchers and companies can jointly test at a semi-industrial scale.
• RUG Labs op de Zernike Campus — Five new state-of-the-art research setups, ranging from electrochemical test stations to geological pressure chambers and hydrogen sensors. Equipment that is not available anywhere else in Northern Netherlands.

In addition, Resato is developing a mobile hydrogen academy with transportable test setups, enabling the facilities to be deployed beyond fixed locations.

3. Knowledge sharing and communication
All knowledge and test results are actively shared, both within the consortium and with the outside world. Participating educational institutions incorporate the acquired knowledge and use the testing facilities in their curricula, and collaborate with industry to offer relevant courses. In this way, we ensure that new insights quickly find their way into practice.

Supported by the JTF

The H₂ Knowledge & Innovation Hub is co-funded by the Just Transition Fund (JTF), a European fund specifically established to support regions affected by the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy. Northern Netherlands—historically closely connected to the natural gas sector—qualifies for this support. The Northern Netherlands Alliance (SNN) is responsible for implementing the JTF programme in the three northern provinces. With a total investment of €15 million, this lays the foundation for a future-proof training and innovation infrastructure that will serve the region for years to come.