Question reference: S6W-27166
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 1 May 2024
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Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in supporting a growing Scottish skills base in hydrogen for transport, as set out in its Hydrogen Action Plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with many partners to develop Scotland’s skills base in hydrogen for transport.
These include working with the Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) on the Hydrogen Skills Project (HSP). HSP Automotive and Hydrogen Training Networks now have access to cutting edge hydrogen fuel cell technology learning resources. The networks have conducted learning and development activities across Scotland, showcasing their capabilities at the annual All-Energy Conferences in Glasgow.
Support from Transport Scotland enabled the ESP to acquire a hydrogen fuel cell trainer , a hybrid hydrogen energy lab system and related kit to be sited at Dundee’s Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) skills academy. Available to colleges within the HSP training network, this is part of a larger plan to have a range of training equipment at MSIP to help support hydrogen skills within Scotland.
The ESP has also worked with Aberdeen City Council , H2 Aberdeen , H2 Accelerator , HyTrEc2 and SMART-HY-AWARE to produce an accessible Hydrogen for Transport Course aimed at those joining a hydrogen transport industry, including school and college students. In the maritime sector, the University of Highlands and Islands Orkney took their first cohort of seafarers to be trained to work on hydrogen powered vessels in 2021.