Competency Standards for Emerging Hydrogen Related Activities

As hydrogen use as a fuel gains momentum and becomes a component of many nation’s economies, there is a growing need for identification of the skills and knowledge required by workers undertaking hydrogen related activities. This paper considers the activities in the industry and qualifies some of the core competencies required for the emerging workforce. The core competencies are considered specifically from the perspective of working with hydrogen rather than other gases, which in most cases have well developed competency standards, many of which can be applied to the hydrogen industry. The paper focuses on training as it is applicable at a vocational education and training sector level, such as technicians, trade workers and transportation workers, rather than the job roles that require degree or above level qualifications. For many decades, hydrogen has been used extensively in the process industries (e.g. refineries and ammonia synthesis) and experience has shown that it can be handled safely in industrial applications as long as appropriate standards, regulations and best practices are being followed [1]. Relevant training will contribute to the safe handling and use of hydrogen in its new applications. A number of general competency standards for work in hydrogen related activities are presented and these can be used to be integrated into existing vocational education and training frameworks.