Hydrogen Fundamentals
Course Duration: ~ 40mins – 1hr
Course Overview
This Hydrogen Fundamentals course provides a clear and accessible introduction to hydrogen, its properties, applications and potential role in the future energy system.
Understanding the characteristics and behaviour of hydrogen is essential for anyone looking to develop their knowledge of this rapidly growing industry. Throughout the course, delegates will explore what hydrogen is, why interest in it is increasing and how its unique properties influence the way it is produced, classified, used and handled.
The course also considers the current challenges facing hydrogen adoption, before introducing the fundamental principles of hydrogen safety and why understanding its behaviour is essential when working with or around hydrogen.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Define hydrogen and describe its fundamental characteristics.
- Explain why hydrogen is attracting increasing interest as an energy carrier.
- Describe the key physical and chemical properties of hydrogen.
- Recognise the commonly used hydrogen colour classifications and explain what they represent.
- Describe different methods of hydrogen production.
- Identify current and potential uses of hydrogen across different sectors.
- Outline some of the key challenges associated with the wider use of hydrogen.
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Course Breakdown
Why are we talking about hydrogen?
We begin by looking at why hydrogen has become such an important topic in the energy sector.
This section explores the potential role of hydrogen in the transition to a lower-carbon energy system, why investment and interest in hydrogen are increasing, and where hydrogen could contribute across different industries and applications.
What is hydrogen?
We then go back to the fundamentals and explore what hydrogen actually is.
You’ll be introduced to the basic science behind hydrogen, including its physical and chemical properties, characteristics and behaviour. Understanding these fundamentals provides the foundation for exploring how hydrogen can be produced, transported, stored and used.
How do we classify hydrogen?
Not all hydrogen is produced in the same way.
This section introduces the commonly used hydrogen colour classifications, exploring what the different colours represent and how hydrogen is produced using different processes and technologies. We’ll consider how production methods can affect the environmental impact of hydrogen.
How is hydrogen used?
Hydrogen has applications across a wide range of industries.
We explore how hydrogen is currently used and where its use could expand in the future. This includes considering hydrogen as an energy carrier and its potential applications across areas such as energy, transport, industry and heating.
Current challenges for hydrogen use
Despite its potential, hydrogen also presents a number of challenges.
We examine some of the key factors that need to be considered as hydrogen use expands, including production, infrastructure, transportation, storage and the wider practical challenges associated with developing a hydrogen economy.
Is hydrogen safe?
We finish by introducing the fundamental principles of hydrogen safety.
This section considers the characteristics of hydrogen that are particularly important from a safety perspective and introduces the reasons why understanding hydrogen’s behaviour is essential when working with or around it.
