Practical Knowledge for Hydrogen Projects (Advanced Level) | Course

• What are the challenges and opportunities associated with scaling up green hydrogen production and its derivatives?
• What factors influence hydrogen pricing and market development?
• What impact will green hydrogen and its derivatives have on different industries and sectors, and how should businesses prepare for this change?
• How do market design, international trade, and location factors influence the competitiveness of hydrogen value chains?

Basic Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• describe the fundamentals of hydrogen and PtX production (e.g. ammonia, methanol) and their role in the value chain.
• describe key market drivers, demand trends, regulatory influences, and cost factors affecting hydrogen prices.
• describe key application sectors for hydrogen and PtX products and their role in decarbonisation.
• describe key elements of market design, international trade, and location factors relevant to hydrogen value chains.

• analyse cost structures and evaluate the economic viability of hydrogen and PtX production projects.
• evaluate how technology choices, location, and learning effects influence hydrogen pricing and market competitiveness.
• explore the challenges and solutions related to the transportation, storage, and infrastructure requirements for hydrogen derivatives, supported by case studies and online tools.
• evaluate locations and market conditions using relevant criteria and methods to assess competitiveness of hydrogen projects.
   

Following questions will be answered:

• How can hydrogen be stored and transported to end users in different application contexts?
• How can hydrogen be converted into Power-to-X (PtX) products?
• How can hydrogen be applied across sectors, and which applications are most relevant for decarbonisation?
• How can hydrogen be used to generate electricity, and what are the key technologies involved?

Basic Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• describe key storage forms and transport options for hydrogen (e.g. compressed, liquefied, carriers, pipelines).
• describe typical PtX products derived from hydrogen and their main applications.
• name key sectors for hydrogen applications and describe their CO2 reduction potentials.
• describe the main fuel cell types and their typical applications.

Advanced Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• evaluate different hydrogen transport and storage options for varying distances, volumes, and use cases.
• analyse PtX conversion pathways and evaluate energy efficiency losses across hydrogen-based value chains (e.g. reconversion of carriers).
• assess hydrogen use cases in industrial contexts.
• explain the working principles of fuel cells and evaluate their suitability for different use cases.

Following questions will be answered:

• What are the key steps in the initial planning and system definition of a hydrogen production system?
• How are hydrogen production systems designed, developed, and implemented?
• How are operation, costs, and risks interconnected in hydrogen production systems, and how can they be influenced?
• What are the key responsibilities, legal requirements, and service structures for operating a hydrogen production system?

Basic Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• describe the objectives, scope, and key planning steps of a hydrogen production system, including its main interfaces.
• describe the main phases of the design, development, and implementation process of a hydrogen production system.
• describe key cost components, operational objectives, and maintenance measures of a hydrogen production system.
• describe operator responsibilities, relevant legal requirements, and basic service and maintenance structures (e.g. support levels).

Advanced Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• analyse system requirements and define the scope and interfaces of a hydrogen production system in a project context, considering external boundary conditions such as energy supply and offtake pathways.
• evaluate design and implementation approaches for hydrogen production systems in terms of technical feasibility and project requirements.
• assess the relationship between operational strategies, costs, and risks, and evaluate options to optimise system performance and economic efficiency.
• evaluate how legal requirements and service strategies (e.g. multi-level support concepts) influence safe and reliable operation.

• What role can hydrogen and PtX processes play in a future energy system?
• What hydrogen production routes exist, and how do conventional and green hydrogen production processes differ?
• How do different electrolysis technologies work, and what are their key differences?
• How can electrolysis technologies be selected and integrated into hydrogen production systems for specific applications?

Basic Knowledge

• describe the role of hydrogen and PtX processes within the future energy system and value chain.
• describe the main hydrogen production routes, including conventional and green processes.
• describe the basic principles of water electrolysis and the main electrolysis technologies (e.g. AEL, PEM, SOEC).
• outline the general system concept of industrial-scale hydrogen production systems.

Advanced Knowledge

• analyse how the integration of hydrogen and PtX processes into the energy system contributes to defossilisation.
• compare hydrogen production routes in terms of sustainability, efficiency, and system integration.
• analyse the electrochemical principles and compare electrolysis technologies in terms of efficiency and system design.
• evaluate the suitability of electrolysis technologies for specific applications and assess system requirements for industrial hydrogen production.

• How do local and regional wind characteristics influence site assessment, and what steps and uncertainties must be considered?
• How do wind conditions, turbine interactions (e.g., wakes), and site types (onshore vs. offshore) affect wind farm performance?
• What are the main components of a wind turbine, and how are turbines designed and installed under different site conditions?
• How do data, maintenance strategies, and cost factors influence the operation, reliability, and LCOE of wind farms?

• describe the origin of wind and its relevance for wind energy projects, and outline the key steps in site assessment.
• explain how wind conditions influence energy production and distinguish between onshore and offshore wind energy systems.
• describe the main components of a wind turbine and common foundation types, and outline the basic installation process.
• describe key data types used in wind farms, explain condition monitoring, and describe basic maintenance strategies and cost categories.

Advanced Knowledge

• evaluate site suitability based on wind data and analyse key uncertainties in wind resource assessment.
• analyse wake effects on different scales and assess how turbine interaction and site conditions impact overall wind farm performance.
• evaluate different foundation and installation strategies in relation to technical and environmental site requirements.
• analyse performance and reliability data and assess how maintenance strategies and cost factors influence operational efficiency and LCOE.

Following questions will be answered:

• How do geographical location and weather conditions impact the energy production of a photovoltaic plant?
• What are the main components of a PV plant, and what role does each component play?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of different PV plant layouts when used for green hydrogen production?

Basic Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• list several external factors that can affect the energy production of a PV plant.
• recognize the key components of a PV plant.
• name typical PV system layouts and explain their implications for green hydrogen production.

Advanced Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• evaluate and compare several external factors and describe qualitatively the impact on the energy output of a PV plant.
• explain key components and describe briefly their role and interaction within PV plants / systems.
• compare the advantages and disadvantages of different PV system layouts for green hydrogen production.

Following questions will be answered:

• What are the key hazards and safety risks associated with hydrogen technologies and infrastructure?
• How can the legal framework governing the safety obligations of manufacturers and operators in the hydrogen environment be described and applied in practice?
• How can effective technical explosion protection measures be implemented for hydrogen systems?
• How can safety be systematically established and managed for complex hydrogen systems using advanced risk assessment tools and process safety methodologies?

Basic Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• describe the fundamental safety characteristics of hydrogen and identify key hazards in hydrogen systems.
• describe the basic legal obligations and hierarchy in the hydrogen context (local and global).
• describe primary and secondary explosion protection measures.
• describe common methods used for risk analysis in process and system safety.

Advanced Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• evaluate mitigation measures against safety hazards and demonstrate practical engineering and risk management knowledge in hydrogen systems and integrated infrastructure.
• analyse and apply relevant regulations and standards associated to hydrogen projects along the value chain.
• apply process safety expertise in designing and implementing explosion protection systems for complex hydrogen environments.
• analyse and apply process safety methods (e.g. HAZOP, HAZID, SIL, LOPA) in hydrogen systems.

Following questions will be answered:

• How can regulatory frameworks and market instruments accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen and ensure its sustainability and economic viability?
• How do site-specific legal framework conditions affect the feasibility and implementation of green hydrogen projects in different regions?
• How do market instruments, such as subsidies, carbon credits, and trade agreements, implement sustainability and shape the economic landscape for domestic and international green hydrogen projects?

Basic Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• recognize and compare regulations from different import markets relevant for green hydrogen production.
• list and explain legal sustainability requirements concerning green hydrogen projects.
• list market instruments relevant for sustainable hydrogen production and name their mechanism.

Advanced Knowledge

After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to ...

• critically examine regulations from different import markets, and evaluate their impact ont sustainability and market growth of green hydrogen.
• discuss how legal sustainability requirements can impact the implementation and feasability of a green hydrogen project.
• assess market instruments relevant for green hydrogen production and how they support PtX project implementation.