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4th Hydrogen Summer School

By Vagia Gaidatzi Uncategorized
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Course Content

H2 Valley Lab: Design your Energy Ecosystem (Day 1)
This course introduces the concept of Hydrogen Valleys as integrated regional ecosystems that support the production, storage, distribution and utilisation of renewable hydrogen. It explores the policy framework driving their development, the key components that define successful Hydrogen Valleys, and their contribution to Europe's energy transition, industrial decarbonisation and regional innovation. Learners will gain an understanding of how Hydrogen Valleys are planned, implemented and replicated, supported by practical examples from leading European initiatives. The course also presents real-world examples of successful Hydrogen Valley initiatives from across Europe, illustrating different implementation models, technological solutions and governance approaches. Through these case studies, learners will examine how Hydrogen Valleys support industrial decarbonisation, sustainable mobility, renewable energy integration and regional economic development, while addressing the technical, regulatory and financial challenges associated with large-scale hydrogen deployment. By the end of the course, participants will have a solid understanding of the Hydrogen Valley concept, its strategic importance within European energy and climate policies, and the key success factors required for planning, implementing and replicating integrated hydrogen ecosystems.

  • Hydrogen Valleys in the European Union
  • H2 Valleys: Some successful projects

Hydrogen Mobility: From Fundamental Principles to Real World Deployment (Day 1)
This course explores hydrogen mobility technologies and their potential to support the decarbonisation of transport and other high-demand applications. It introduces the fundamental combustion and electrochemical principles behind hydrogen internal combustion engines and fuel-cell propulsion, while examining their performance, emissions, efficiency, infrastructure needs and operational limitations. Learners will also explore current industrial developments, vehicle applications and technology pathways, gaining a balanced understanding of where hydrogen engines and fuel cells may offer the greatest value in future mobility systems.

Sustainability in Hydrogen Systems: Using Life Cycle Assessment to Evaluate Hydrogen Pathways (Day 1)
This course introduces the principles of sustainability assessment in hydrogen systems, with a particular emphasis on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a decision-support tool. It explores the environmental, economic and societal dimensions of sustainable development, the international standards governing LCA studies, and the methodologies used to evaluate hydrogen production pathways and energy systems. Through practical examples and case studies, learners will develop the knowledge required to critically assess the sustainability of hydrogen technologies and support informed decisions throughout the hydrogen value chain.

Unlocking Hydrogen Potential in Copper Industry (Day 2)
This course explores the role of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, using the copper sector as a practical case study. It examines the challenges associated with reducing greenhouse gas emissions in mining and metallurgical operations, the integration of renewable energy and hydrogen technologies, and the opportunities for improving industrial sustainability. Learners will gain an understanding of how hydrogen can support cleaner production processes, heavy transport, energy storage and regional industrial transformation within the framework of the European energy transition.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Technology Development for Real-World Applications (Day 2)
This course introduces hydrogen fuel cell technologies and their integration into practical energy systems for stationary, portable and off-grid applications. It explores the operating principles of different fuel cell technologies, system architectures, hydrogen storage solutions and complete energy systems designed for reliable, low-emission power generation. Learners will gain an understanding of how fuel cells are deployed in real-world environments and the engineering considerations involved in designing, integrating and operating hydrogen-based energy solutions across diverse applications.

Decarbonisation of heavy duty transport – possible pathways and challenges (Day 2)
This course explores the role of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of heavy-duty transport and off-road machinery. It examines the technological foundations, operational requirements and infrastructure needed to deploy hydrogen-powered solutions across sectors such as road freight, construction, mining, agriculture, rail and maritime transport. Learners will gain an understanding of the opportunities, limitations and future prospects of hydrogen technologies in applications where high power demand, long operating hours and rapid refuelling are essential.

From Renewable to Hydrogen: how to build a Hydrogen Valley (Day 2)
This course introduces the techno-economic principles behind planning and developing Hydrogen Valleys, with a focus on renewable hydrogen production through water electrolysis. It explores the factors that influence hydrogen production costs, the selection of electrolyser technologies, system integration with renewable energy sources, and the infrastructure required to deliver hydrogen to end users. Learners will gain the knowledge needed to evaluate hydrogen projects from both technical and economic perspectives, supporting informed decision-making for the design and deployment of sustainable hydrogen ecosystems.

Blending Hydrogen and Methane in Existing Gas Distribution Grids – Hydrogen in Real life applications (Day 3)
This course explores the integration of hydrogen into existing natural gas distribution networks through hydrogen–methane blending. It examines the technical, economic and regulatory aspects of blending hydrogen with natural gas, highlighting its role as a transitional pathway towards a low-carbon energy system. Learners will gain an understanding of gas infrastructure compatibility, blending technologies, safety requirements, gas quality considerations and the challenges associated with increasing hydrogen shares while maintaining reliable and secure network operation.

From Hydrogen Hype to Green Molecules (Day 3)
This course explores how renewable hydrogen can be transformed into sustainable fuels and chemicals through Power-to-X (PtX) technologies. It introduces the role of hydrogen derivatives in enabling long-duration energy storage, decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors and facilitating the global transport of renewable energy. Learners will examine the production, storage, transportation and utilisation of green molecules, with a particular focus on ammonia as both a hydrogen carrier and a carbon-free energy vector. The course combines fundamental concepts with techno-economic analyses and real-world case studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with the emerging green molecules economy.

Solar resources for green hydrogen production: an interactive country competition (Day 4)
This course explores the role of solar energy in enabling cost-effective green hydrogen production. It examines how solar resource availability, electricity generation costs and carbon intensity influence the competitiveness and sustainability of renewable hydrogen projects. Through interactive exercises and real-world datasets, learners will develop practical skills in assessing photovoltaic potential, comparing regional conditions and evaluating the suitability of different locations for renewable hydrogen production.

The Missing Link in Hydrogen Valleys: Connecting VET Excellence with Workforce Solutions (Day 4)
This course explores the human dimension of the hydrogen transition by examining the skills, workforce and vocational education systems required to support the growth of Hydrogen Valleys. It highlights the importance of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs), lifelong learning, industry collaboration and labour market intelligence in developing a skilled hydrogen workforce. Learners will gain an understanding of current workforce challenges, emerging competency needs and strategies for connecting education with employment across the hydrogen value chain.

Metal Hydrides for Hydrogen Storage: From Technology Fundamentals to Island Applications (Day 4)
This course explores hydrogen storage technologies and their application in island energy systems. It introduces metal hydrides as a safe and efficient hydrogen storage solution and examines how hydrogen can support the decarbonisation of isolated energy systems through renewable energy integration, long-duration energy storage and sustainable transport. Learners will gain an understanding of the technical principles of hydrogen storage, the opportunities and challenges of island hydrogen ecosystems, and the role of hydrogen in enhancing energy resilience and supporting the transition towards climate-neutral islands.

H2VE Contest “Exploring the setup of a local hydrogen valley” (Day 4)
The H2VE Contest serves as the final capstone assignment of the Hydrogen Summer School, bringing together the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme. Working in multidisciplinary teams, learners apply technical, economic, environmental and societal concepts to design a conceptual Hydrogen Valley tailored to a selected region or community. The assignment challenges participants to identify local renewable energy resources, hydrogen production and storage solutions, end-use applications, infrastructure requirements, stakeholders and workforce needs, while considering techno-economic feasibility and sustainability. By integrating concepts from all previous courses, learners develop a holistic understanding of Hydrogen Valley planning and strengthen their problem-solving, collaboration and presentation skills in a real-world project context.

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Athina Kalaitzi
3 weeks ago
I really enjoyed the the course, I got to meet new people and learn useful stuff.
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