Energy and Sustainability at the Core
The day began with a central presentation on the energy transition, covering topics such as grid congestion, wind and solar energy, and hydrogen technology. The students were then divided into groups and participated in three different workshops:
- Hydrogen in Action – The students built small vehicles using a fuel cell-electrolyzer combination. This provided them with a hands-on introduction to hydrogen technology, leading to an exciting race on the floor of Spark.
- Biobased Materials: Building Piggy Banks – In this workshop, the students explored the difference between biobased and conventional materials by creating a piggy bank from various raw materials.
- Biobased Sheet Materials – This workshop focused on the use of biobased materials for applications such as facade cladding and sheet materials, giving students insight into sustainable building materials.
These workshops were guided by researchers Jeroen van Gerwen, Myla Gonzalez Alonso, and Sander van Gameren from the Renewable Energy Carriers research group, and Jasper Sluis and Hans de Wit from the Biobased Construction research group, all working at the Living Green Lab.
An Educational Experience
The combination of theory and practice provided a dynamic learning experience, where students not only got acquainted with hydrogen technology but also asked critical questions about hydrogen storage and its deployability, as well as the role of biobased materials in the energy transition. It was an inspiring day for both the students and the researchers!
Interested in a Workshop?
The hydrogen kits used are easy to apply and suitable for secondary schools, vocational education, and higher education programs. Interested institutions or schools that want to learn more about hydrogen technology or organize a workshop can contact Jeroen van Gerwen.
