Building a skilled and flexible workforce for the hydrogen economy of tomorrow
From microcredentials to custom training, from safety courses to international collaboration, it all came together at the event. Over 70 professionals from education, government, business, and regional organizations joined this inspiring day filled with knowledge-sharing, real-world examples, and practical tools for accelerating the hydrogen transition.
Earth from space
The day began with the immersive VR experience Earth from Space, giving participants a glimpse of what astronauts feel when viewing our planet from orbit. A ten-minute journey revealed the Earth as a beautifully connected yet fragile system, leaving participants to reflect on their personal responsibility in the energy transition.
Marsha Wagner, Program Manager HCA, shared:
“Experiences like this speak to the heart and tap into people’s passion. And that’s exactly what we need to drive real change.”
Play a wildcard and be bold
There’s a growing call to just get started to take action. It’s easier said than done, but it’s happening. Several early adopters shared how they’ve turned this way of thinking into real-world action.
David Molenaar, engineer and project lead at Delft Offshore Turbine (DOT), opened with an inspiring talk on courage and systems thinking. He walked the audience through the transformation of the offshore platform BLPH into the hydrogen test facility Phynix in Eemshaven. This groundbreaking project will deliver a 2.5 MW electrolyzer, combining learning, testing, and scaling in one. Collaboration with other test centers like the Hydrohub Megawatt Test Center and Shell’s long-term testing facility, in partnership with GroenvermogenNL, is a key part of the effort.
David Molenaar urged attendees to think differently:
“Many people want change but don’t know how. In the Netherlands, there’s pressure to see immediate returns on investment. Let go of that mindset—play a wildcard for what you truly believe in.”
Aldwin Oechies echoed this sentiment:
“This isn’t rocket science, but you do have to start. Be bold, be rebellious, and start building. SMEs play a crucial role in this.”
As General Manager at Holthausen Energy Points, Oechies showed how hydrogen is already integrated into everyday life, from trucks to street sweepers and even boats. He also shared Holthausen’s ambitions for dedicated electrolysis systems and fueling stations in Amsterdam and Groningen.
No change without conversation
Both speakers joined a panel discussion with Marsha Wagner and Dave Beijer, Managing Director of the PPS Chemelot Innovation & Learning Labs (CHILL). A major theme was human connection.
Marsha emphasized:
“There is no change without honest conversation. We need to connect to understand each other and bridge differences. That’s what Make Hydrogen Work is about,creating space for honest dialogue so we can develop and learn together. And we need the people who actually do it, the cowboys.”
Dave Beijer added:
“It takes vulnerability and humility to build trust. And trust is what brings people together.”
Bridging the gap between supply and demand
The afternoon featured five interactive workshops, each tackling the core challenge: how do we prepare enough skilled professionals for today’s and tomorrow’s energy transition? Topics included regional collaboration, skills-based approaches, youth engagement, and public-private partnerships.
The event didn’t just spark ideas, it sparked momentum. Several regions made follow-up commitments to keep the conversation going on local implementation and skill development. The Labour Matching Platform continues to match people with jobs based on their skills in various regions. GroenvermogenNL is also advancing the Make Hydrogen Work initiative as a broader social innovation, including work on a skills and quality framework.
Workshop input is being used to further develop youth-focused campaigns, with special attention to regional alignment. A new series of co-creation sessions and workgroups is planned for after summer 2025.
Want to know more about Make Hydrogen Work, contact:
John Herfkens
Projectmanager Make Hydrogen Work