The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), through the H2VERDE project, has successfully completed the delivery of five training programmes focused on renewable hydrogen, a key energy vector for the energy transition in the Canary Islands and the decarbonization of its economy. These initiatives have enabled the training of more than one hundred people in the preliminary design of renewable hydrogen generation plants, risk analysis, energy planning and advanced management, as well as applications of renewable hydrogen in the port and maritime sectors.
The programmes, offered by PLOCAN and certified by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), were held between March and July. The courses received nearly 400 applications, of which half were admitted, and 119 participants ultimately obtained certification.
“The courses have generated remarkable interest, as they aim to equip professionals in a sector that is strategic for the sustainable future of the region. We have planted a seed that marks the beginning of a path which, if reinforced, will contribute to generating employment, economic activity and sustainability in the Canary Islands,” highlighted Adriana García, project manager in PLOCAN’s renewable energies research line.
Renewable (or green) hydrogen, produced by electrolysis (the use of electricity to split water molecules – H₂O – into oxygen – O₂ – and hydrogen – H₂) using electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind, does not produce polluting emissions and offers an innovative solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, which currently exceeds 90% in the Canary Islands. In addition, it facilitates the integration of renewable energies into an isolated electrical system such as that of the Archipelago.
Green hydrogen is particularly relevant for strategic sectors such as maritime transport and port operations, which are key to the Canary Islands’ Blue Economy. Its implementation will help progress towards the goal of decarbonizing the islands’ economy by 2040, positioning the Canary Islands as a global model for sustainability.
The courses were attended by professionals in engineering and technical fields, specialists in the hydrogen sector, researchers, graduates, Master’s students in engineering and related disciplines, as well as professionals or unemployed interested in this sector.
The training sessions were delivered by a team of over 20 professionals and academics with experience in renewable hydrogen, fuel cells and safety in installations. These included university professors from ULPGC, the Technical University of Madrid (UPM), the University of Huelva (UHU), the University of Seville (US) and the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), as well as private sector professionals from companies such as Lean Hydrogen and Tandem HSE, with extensive experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of renewable hydrogen projects.
According to Adriana García, “the training has been very positively rated by participants, who have highlighted the quality of the content, the expertise of the teaching staff and the opportunity to gain free access to specialized knowledge in an emerging sector of great relevance for the Archipelago’s energy future.”
“With this initiative, PLOCAN strengthens its commitment to technical training and the promotion of renewable hydrogen as a sustainable solution for the Canary Islands, in line with the territory’s decarbonization and technological development goals,” she added.
This action is funded by the H2VERDE project through a €6 million grant from the Renewable Energy and Hydrogen project, under investment 1 of component 17 (Complementary R&D&I Plans with the Autonomous Communities) of the Government of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), financed with “Next Generation EU” funds through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
The certification of the programmes by ULPGC is part of the agreement signed between this institution and PLOCAN, a collaboration supported by the Vice-Rectorate for Lifelong Learning and Employability, which reinforces the academic quality and institutional recognition of the training provided.
Energía e Hidrógeno Renovable, H2VERDE, is funded through a direct grant from the Government of the Canary Islands to PLOCAN, under Investment 1 of Component 17 of the Spanish Government’s Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia (PRTR), financed with Next Generation EU funds, through the Mecanismo de Recuperación y Resiliencia (MRR).
