Lis Blume (NWN) and Dr. Ruggero Capperucci (University of Oldenburg) during the interview in Oldenburg. ©NWN

Mr. Capperucci, are our skilled workers well prepared for the energy transition?

RC: Dear Ms. Blume, unfortunately I have to give you a clear answer: No. There is currently a serious shortage of hydrogen specialists in Germany. An estimate by the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV) assumes that 70,000 new specialists will need to be trained for the hydrogen cycle by 2030 - and that's before the latest international events have given a decisive boost to energy independence and the green transition at national and EU level.

Hydrogen as an important building block in the energy supply has been a recurring topic in recent decades, starting in the 1980s. The topic itself is not new - but why is there still a lack of expertise in dealing with the gas?

RC: Green hydrogen will develop its market potential in various sectors over the next ten years. The technology for using hydrogen for energy purposes has been well known for decades. Nevertheless, its large-scale application requires a rethink and an adaptation of the entire economic and industrial system at various levels. The energy transition with hydrogen as a central "bridge" for the coupling of different sectors brings with it a multitude of technological, but also legal, economic and operational challenges. Last but not least, politics and administration are also required to initiate and support the transition.

We always talk about the skilled workers and managers in the companies. You are now also bringing the administration into play - what role does it play in the development of the hydrogen economy?

RC: There is currently a strong political will for the transformation of the industry and numerous investments in pilot projects. Competent specialists and managers in all areas along the value chain, as well as in politics and administration, are needed to develop a hydrogen economy. In addition, hydrogen economy projects are complex, interdisciplinary and innovative. A dedicated training program can shorten the learning curve and reduce the cost of mistakes.

What qualifications do specialists need to work with renewable energies, but above all with hydrogen?

RC: This depends on the sector in which you work: But in general, in addition to the qualifications they already have, any specialist who wants to deal with renewable energies and hydrogen in particular needs the necessary specialist knowledge. They should also be able to look at renewable energy projects and the hydrogen economy from different perspectives, understand them as well as possible and communicate with various players/trades in these areas. 

Which specialists, for example, take part in further training at the University of Oldenburg?

RC: Our participants include professionals from a wide range of backgrounds: Engineers who want to gain specific know-how about hydrogen technologies, bankers who want to address specific economic issues around timelines and price drivers for hydrogen, and so on. Importantly, however, these professionals are asked to work together to develop a virtual hydrogen project that encompasses all these aspects, so that each can not only contribute their own discipline, but also learn to see through the eyes of the other and get a complete picture of the whole project process.

Now we've talked about specialists. In which areas do managers need to undergo further training in order to stay on the ball?

RC: Managers must decide whether and how the hydrogen economy is relevant to their company or division and, if so, establish a business segment. The decentralized nature of renewable energies offers opportunities for many companies whose managers need to understand the "ecosystem" of the hydrogen economy. In addition to a basic technical understanding, this also requires knowledge of the components, dimensions, players and political dimensions of hydrogen projects and the hydrogen economy. They must also be able to assess possible business models and know which skills and people they need for a hydrogen project.

Your assessment: Will we see completely new training professions or will the topic of hydrogen have to be integrated into existing training programs?

RC: In the short term, the urgent need for specialists must be met with our own new courses and programs, such as ours. We are aiming to provide the necessary specialist and general knowledge as well as the various perspectives and independent orientation skills in the hydrogen economy in six months with a high-quality academic training program that has a strong practical orientation. In the medium term, I believe that the topic of hydrogen will increasingly become part of the normal training canon. But even in this phase, I see good prospects for our program of further training for specialists and managers in the hydrogen economy.

.