D4.1 The requirements for technical personnel and advice for reinforcing education on the subject of hydrogen

In the field of infrastructure technology (distribution of energy in the form of (methane) gas, heat and electricity) for hydrogen, no complete and adequate MBO training is currently offered by training institutions. However, in the coming years, the demand for technically trained personnel on MBO-level with knowledge and skills of a natural gas network, a hydrogen network and network conversion will increase in order to realize the conversion of the natural gas network to hydrogen. In the coming years, operational deployment of technicians with this knowledge will be required by the national grid operator for the realization of the hydrogen backbone. This necessity also applies to the regional grid operators, whose hydrogen pilot projects require several teams of technicians with this knowledge in the near future and a potential hydrogen distribution grid offers future prospects for growth in this number. Immediate action therefore has to be taken to train current staff and to train additional technical personnel with knowledge of natural gas and hydrogen distribution.

Training courses can be developed in collaboration with the professional field which facilitates for adapting to changes. An additional advantage is that this can also be used on a small scale, which makes it suitable for the planned pilot projects. Courses that cover the basic knowledge of hydrogen and the differences compared to natural gas are part of the current available trainings. A first introduction to hydrogen can therefore already be taught with the educational training that is already being organized within the network organization schools themselves or the options below.

• Training Waterstof (Noorderpoort): a 10-day course in which the operation, advantages and disadvantages and transport and application possibilities of hydrogen are discussed

• Praktijkcursus Waterstof (Kiwa Training): a one-day practical training in which the properties of hydrogen and differences with natural gas are approached from theory but also from practice (by means of practical tests).

A complete and adequate MBO training for technical personnel is not available and will have to be developed. The required attainment targets are the basis of every training. These attainment targets are specified in Chapter 5. This forms the basis for electives and refresher courses for mechanics who will work on high and low pressure hydrogen pipelines. General knowledge about hydrogen, (change in) technical process steps and safe working procedures are central to this. A detailed elaboration of the attainment targets in the form of learning objectives can be further developed after establishing national safety work instructions for hydrogen (VWIs) and after clarifying the technical specifications.

Attention should also be paid to recruiting personnel in the field of infrastructure technology. There is a shortage of both technical staff and teachers to train them. This scarcity already prevails in the energy sector, but is extended when it comes to personnel with hydrogen expertise. In order to actually realize the hydrogen projects and ambitions, the technical staff and teachers to train them must be available.