Noord-Nederland
Northern Netherlands
Contact Person
Name:
Jogchem MEINEMA
Email:
j.meinema@newenergycoalition.org
Partners
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Drenthe TEKST
|
|
Hanzehogeschool Groningen
Hanze University of Applied Sciences |
|
Noorderpoort
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New Energy Coalition
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Associated Partners
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Nederlandse Waterstof en Brandstofcel
Dutch Hydrogen and Fuel Cell |
About
The Northern Netherlands has a long history as the Netherlands’ leading energy supplier, starting with peat and windmills in the 17th and 18th centuries, becoming a dominant player in natural gas production in the 20th century, and now developing as one of Europe's first hydrogen valley. After facing challenges of induced earthquakes from gas extraction, the region has successfully reinvented itself as a leader in renewable energy, drawing its extensive knowledge and infrastructure from the gas sector.
As the hydrogen valley in the Northern Netherlands scales up, so does the broader energy transition. Although the region has developed an educational framework for hydrogen technology, it is still in its early stages. Hence, there is still a demand for engineers and skilled professionals across the entire hydrogen value chain, as well as the need to educate workers from the fossil gas industry. This highlights the importance of strengthening collaboration between businesses and educational institutes to better understand the skills required by the market. The key vocational education needs identified in Northern Netherlands include:
- A demand for new professionals and reskilling the professionals from the fossil gas industry
- The development of hydrogen-focused training modules that keep pace with innovations in the hydrogen economy
- Scaling of the Train-the-Trainer approach to ensure that teachers are well equipped to provide up to date hydrogen education to the students
Given the parallel developments in the hydrogen field, it is crucial to offer education on both current hydrogen technologies and future innovations. The Northern Netherlands is already participating in international and national programmes, which can serve as a valuable platform for advancing this CoVE initiative.
