HELIX-West: Hydrogen Education and Learning Innovation eXchange for region West-Nederland

Green hydrogen is a key enabler of the energy transition, offering significant potential to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, transport, and chemicals while supporting the integration of renewable energy. In line with national ambitions, hydrogen production in the Netherlands is expected to increase rapidly, particularly in the western region. In this region, extensive experimentation takes place in many field labs, test labs that involve industry, government, and educational institutions. In this research project we closely collaborate with four field labs: (1) The Green Village (on TU Delft campus); (2) RDM Campus; (3) the Merwe4Havens; and (4) the Duurzaamheidsfabriek. Despite their experimentation, substantial knowledge gaps remain regarding region-specific labor market needs, the development of a capable workforce for a socio-technical system transformation, and the transferability of skills and institutional capacities generated in experimental settings to formal education and training pathways. To addresses these challenges, we adapt a systems transformation perspective and applies transdisciplinary action research to reconceptualize professional skills for the green hydrogen economy. The project will facilitate learning communities for four existing experimentation areas, and learning across these four experimental areas to generate transferable, practice-oriented insights and learning models that support dynamic workforce development and contribute to the long-term transformation of education and training systems for a sustainable hydrogen future.