Background
H2 mobility systems use is on the rise.
As part of the EU’s Green Deal, hydrogen is foreseen to play a big role in the decarbonisation goals prescribed. Current research suggests that the ongoing decrease in cost for producing “green” hydrogen (i.e. renewable hydrogen from electrolysis) will make hydrogen a significant contributor to the fight against climate change, especially for the mobility sector (e.g. heavy-duty transport, taxi fleets, local city buses).
The EC has put forth its hydrogen strategy, according to which it plans to produce up to 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen and invest heavily in the hydrogen mobility sector.
In Spain, France and Germany, there have been investment and plans that will introduce thousands of light and heavy-duty hydrogen-powered vehicles on the European roads, within the next decades. These plans also contain the expansion of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS) across EU territory.
As hydrogen use spreads in the EU, more than 1 million jobs are expected to be created, a substantial amount of which will be unavoidably offered in the H2 mobility sector.
With this move towards hydrogen-powered solutions in the transport sector, there is a pressing need for a workforce with a specific set of skills, able to handle vehicle parts ordering and inventory management, vehicle instrumentation, diagnosis and repair of H2 powertrains, installation and maintenance of Hydrogen Refuelling Station, or following protocol for refuelling H2 vehicles.
Challenges
The needs in workforce for H2 mobility.
Given that changes in technology often imply a loss of blue-collar jobs in any sector, upskilling of the workforce is of vital importance and a major alternative to avoid unemployment by the imminent shift to a green mobility sector.
A workforce comprised of technicians who will be able to maintain H2 powertrains but also install and maintain Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS), thus combining the two worlds of powertrain maintenance and refuelling, will play a key role in the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy.
Still, and despite this spike in investment and interest in a hydrogen-fuelled fleet, there is a shortage in I-VET and upskilling courses.
Some European projects have developed relevant courses, though the need for an H2 mobility-specific course, designed to be used both for initial and continuous training, remains unanswered. A training programme tailored to cover the needs of the emerging H2 mobility sector is currently lacking.
Activities
1. Mapping of the technical skills needed for hydrogen mobility technicians.
2. Development of a course curriculum on H2 mobility skills and creation of corresponding training and assessment materials to be offered as Open Educational Resources.
3. Development of a Massive Open Online Course on H2 mobility sector skills, promoting the uptake of innovative and flexible learning.
4. Development of a trainer’s handbook for the integration of the UpHyMob learning outcomes in H2 mobility in-house training.
5. Involvement of key sectoral stakeholders for the integration of the project results in VET and in-house training offerings & workplace practices, through the development of a Statement of Support.