UHI North, West, and Hebrides is looking to boost its reputation in hydrogen training and innovation as it eyes European partnerships.
The learning institute delivers professional development award (PDA) hydrogen: an introduction for technicians, which is Scotland’s only SQA recognised qualification dedicated to Hydrogen.
UHI is also lead academic partner in the Creed Hydrogen Skills and Innovation Centre, Stornoway, which will look to transform the Outer Hebrides into a world leading green hydrogen production hub, driving innovation in green hydrogen production learning, testing and research.
The university’s Dr Alasdair Macleod, engineering lecturer and hydrogen expert, and Roddy Ferguson, curriculum manager, recently visited the Gewerbliche Schule in Backnang, Germany, where the HyLab | Hydrogen Learning Center is located.
The visit explored opportunities for partnership and knowledge exchange in hydrogen technologies. The team received a warm welcome and a tour of the school’s cutting-edgefacilities, which are currently undergoing a €10 million upgrade to support hydrogen, construction, and automotive engineering.
They also met with local industry partners involved in high-temperature hydrogen fuel cell research, further strengthening the potential for international collaboration.
Roddy Ferguson said, “We’re incredibly grateful for the hospitality shown by the team at Gewerbliche Schule. The visit has opened up exciting potential for joint projects, and we look forward to welcoming their team to our Stornoway campus in the near future.”
The visit was funded as part of international outreach activity by the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ), a partnership between UHI North, West and Hebrides, Community Energy Scotland, and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
