Delivering Sustainable Solutions
Hydrogen Training Academy
The UK and Ireland’s first purpose built training academy for the hydrogen economy, based in Mid and East Antrim. It equips the workforce with the technical knowledge and safety expertise required to support hydrogen deployment across energy, transport, and manufacturing.
The Hydrogen Training Academy (HTA) delivers a range of hydrogen training for industry across a number of sectors through a combination of online, classroom and practical training as part of an initial pilot project.
This large-scale project involving complex technology which secured almost £800,000 from a range of funders for the pilot from December 2021 to March 2023, including: UK Community Renewal Fund, the Department for Communities Covid Revitalisation Fund, EP UK Investments, Mid and East Antrim Labour Market Partnership and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
The first of its kind in the UK and Ireland, the project upskills and trains existing staff and new trainees to a recognised professional competence standard required for the emerging green energy sector, specifically focusing on hydrogen subject areas. The courses developed and accredited under the HTA pilot project include a range of units at OCN (Open College Network) level three:
- Hydrogen safety;
- Hydrogen generation, storage and distribution;
- Principles of a hydrogen facility (H2 gas safe)
- H2 fuel cells for transport
To support the delivery of the HTA pilot the Council has invested in two bespoke mobile training labs
The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Skills Lab
A suite of mobile desktop training equipment focusing on hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen motor vehicle test kits. The lab facilitates practical training and up-skilling which will impact a wide range of industries and is based at the Northern Regional College Farm Lodge Campus in Ballymena.
The H2 Gas Safe Training Lab
A low carbon mobile ATEX training centre currently based at Silverwood Industrial Estate, Ballymena which provides a practical competence testing space for work with commercial H2 and CH4/H2 blend.
MEANZ Business
A programme supporting SMEs in Mid and East Antrim to embrace sustainability and low-carbon innovation, ensuring that green growth creates new market opportunities.
Find out more about MEANZ Business from members of the MTF Cleantech Network.
The MEANZ Business Project delivered a range of activities including a Net Zero Insights webinar series, you can catch up on the webinars here:
HyTech Project
A collaborative project driving forward hydrogen technology and infrastructure in the region, supporting Northern Ireland’s transition to a clean energy future.
“Through cleantech innovation, we are building a low-carbon economy that secures jobs, protects the environment, and puts our region at the forefront of energy transformation.” Tony Convery, Sustainability Direct, Clarke, MTF Member Company