Hydrogen Economy - University of Houston
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The Hydrogen Economy – a SED Silver Belt Program

Why This Program?

The energy transition is in progress, and the world is grappling with the energy trilemma: How can we supply energy that is affordable, accessible & reliable, and environmentally responsible, for everyone? There is no single solution to this formidable challenge; but hydrogen is a key component of most credible sustainable energy scenarios, with up to 10-fold growth projected for a global energy system that will increase less than two-fold over the next 30 - 50 years.

Hydrogen is currently used heavily in the process industries, and it is seen as a significant future replacement option for the fossil fuels that are now used in power generation, transportation and industry. However, most hydrogen today is produced from fossil energy sources. It will need to be decarbonized if it is to take its place as a dominant player in sustainable energy.

This interactive, online educational program shares insights into the technology, economics, policy, and business drivers and barriers for hydrogen, both in the short term and in the long term. It examines hydrogen’s production, transportation, safety, use, and commercial opportunities. It also includes a capstone project to consolidate the learnings, and to better equip you – the rising energy professional – with skills, knowledge and expertise to thrive in the Hydrogen Economy.

Hydrogen Production Scenario Global Image

Up to 10-fold growth in hydrogen demand is projected if adopted as an energy vector to decarbonize heavy duty transportation and other difficult-to-decarbonize industry sectors. 1-3

Program Overview

Energy professionals – current and future – have to be informed and equipped for an industry that is in transition. The Hydrogen Economy is a standalone micro-credential program that meets this need for an important component of the evolving global energy system. Designed and presented by leaders from industry and accomplished faculty from the University of Houston, the program provides a structured series of micro-credentials or “badges” that cover the changing energy landscape and build the skills to succeed in it.

The Hydrogen Economy is also a Silver Belt Program within the Sustainable Energy Development portfolio. It consists of 3 badges, each of them a 15-hour module, delivered over a 3-week period. The badges are stackable, and form part of the Certificate in Sustainable Energy Development.

Who Should Attend?

The Hydrogen Economy Program has been designed with two distinct groups in mind:

  • Those of you already in the energy industries are seeing significant changes almost daily. The Hydrogen Economy Program will provide the new information, new insights, and new skills you need to manage the new demands that are placed on you as you play your part in the Energy Transition
  • Those of you readying yourself for an energy career need to prepare for a dynamic, exciting and challenging professional life. The Hydrogen Economy Program provides a unique perspective and skillset, giving you a competitively advantaged competence as you enter the energy marketplace

Program Pricing

INDIVIDUAL BADGE PRICE:

$900

EACH

SILVER BELT BUNDLE (Badges 1, 2 & 3, purchased together):

$2,500

ALL 3

Program Schedule

UH Energy is offering the following badge sessions in The Hydrogen Economy, starting Monday, June 14th. Instruction for each Badge consists of 6, 2½-hour online sessions. Sessions are delivered twice per week, Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:00-8:30 pm, CST.

Dates for The Hydrogen Economy Silver Belt:

Badge 1 - Hydrogen Production: JUNE 14 JUNE 16 JUNE 21 JUNE 23 JUNE 28 JUNE 30

Badge 2 - Hydrogen Transportation, Safety & Use: JULY 7 JULY 12 JULY 14 JULY 19 JULY 21 JULY 26

Badge 3 - Commercial Opportunity for Hydrogen: AUGUST 2 AUGUST 4 AUGUST 9 AUGUST 11 AUGUST 16 AUGUST 18

*Though not required, it is strongly recommended to take the badges in the specified sequence, as the later badges build on the content of earlier badges.

Credentialing Overview

This micro-credentialing program delivers a multi-disciplinary understanding of challenges and solutions to develop a viable hydrogen economy, and it is taught by world class instructors, including leaders from industry and the marketplace and accomplished faculty from the University of Houston, the Energy University, in the Energy Capital of the World.

The program is offered in 15-hour modules, each over a 3-week period. Digital badges are awarded for each module, and a set of 3 badges earns you a Belt. The Hydrogen Economy is a standalone program. However, it is also a Silver Belt Program within the Sustainable Energy Development portfolio. The introductory Sustainable Energy Development Bronze Belt, followed by two additional Belts (Silver or Gold) lead to the coveted UH Digital Certificate in Sustainable Energy Development. The badges and belts provide a permanent record, endorsed by UH Energy and the University of Houston, that can be made a part of your resume to credential your new skills.

SILVER BELT

This Silver Belt program builds upon the introduction to the energy transition given in the Bronze Belt in Sustainable Energy Development. It provides a deeper look at hydrogen – one of the most promising vehicles for decarbonizing the global energy system. The three badges explore hydrogen production, hydrogen transportation, safety and use, and the commercial opportunity for hydrogen. A capstone project is included, to consolidate the multidisciplinary learnings of this exciting new program.

The Hydrogen Economy Silver Belt Image
Badge 1: Hydrogen Production Image
Badge 2: Hydrogen Transportation, Safety & Use Image
Badge 3: Commercial Opportunity for Hydrogen Image

Learning Objectives

After successfully completing this program, participants will be able to understand:

  • Key characteristics and drivers for hydrogen as the decarbonization fuel of choice
  • Fundamentals for the existing hydrogen market, and how it is poised to change
  • Policy and strategy: Critical factors in building The Hydrogen Economy
  • Hydrogen as a means for transporting and storing renewable energy
  • Current and emerging options for producing hydrogen
  • Basics of hydrogen safety
  • Technical options for storing and transporting hydrogen, including decision factors
  • Fuel cells and their roles in transportation, in the electric grid, and in domestic and commercial power supply
  • Hydrogen fueled vehicles – from forklifts to aircraft
  • Hydrogen as a fuel to decarbonize industry
  • Trade-offs for use of hydrogen vs. electrification vs. advanced renewable hydrocarbon fuels as vectors for decarbonization

Credentialing Program Prerequisites

Either:

  • Rising senior in a bachelor’s degree program or graduate student; business, engineering, or technology preferred.
  • Industry professional

REFERENCES

  1. Hydrogen decarbonization pathways: Potential supply scenarios, The Hydrogen Council, January 2021.
  2. Mark Ruth et al., The Technical and Economic Potential of the H2@Scale Concept within the United States, NREL Report (2020).
  3. Hydrogen Roadmap Europe: A sustainable pathway for the European Energy Transition, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg: 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions

The first step is to complete the
UH Energy will review your application to ensure that you satisfy the minimum requirements to register. For Badge 1, this means that you should either be:
  • An industry professional. Priority is given to applicants from within the energy sector, with at least five years of experience
  • A student - either in a graduate program, or a rising senior in a bachelor’s degree program. We accept students from a wide range of disciplines, although priority is given to fields such as business, engineering, or technology, which have a clear connection to the energy sector
After we received your application, the review committee will notify you of their decision within two business days. If we are able to offer you a seat in the course, we will send you instructions for online payment. Your application will then be accepted upon receipt of your payment.
Currently we only accept credit card payments.
The course is available online by live, synchronous delivery. Some of the lectures may be prerecorded. The recorded segments are followed by live interaction with instructors in real time. The live interaction will be used to expand on some of the topics in the recorded lectures, and to resolve any misunderstandings and questions that that learners may have.
Yes. Each week you will have an online multiple choice test for homework, and you will have to achieve a passing grade to proceed to the next week. If you do not pass on the first attempt, you can review the course material and re-take the test as many times as you wish. There will also be a final exam at the end of the course.
If you miss a class, or a portion of a badge, the recorded material will be available, and you can view the recordings at your convenience. However, we strongly recommend that you attend the course synchronously, as the live interaction with instructors is an important instructional component.
No. However, the later badges build on the content of the earlier ones, so it is much preferred to take the badges in the specified sequence.
If you miss a badge, you may be able to register for the badge by asynchronous delivery. The asynchronous (i.e., recorded) material will be available, and you can qualify by viewing the recordings and achieving passing grades on the homework and tests. However, we strongly recommend that you attend the course synchronously, as the live interaction with instructors is an important instructional component. The same registration process and fees apply whether you participate in the course in real time, or if you only participate asynchronously.

Micro-credentials are certifications for mastery of specific topic areas or skillsets. To earn a micro-credential, you typically have to complete a certain number of activities, assessments, or projects related to the topic.

Digital badges (or ebadges) are a validated indicator of accomplishment, skill, quality or interest that can be earned in various learning environments. Digital badges are now commonly used as “digital transcripts,” and they can be incorporated in LinkedIn profiles. Many badge earners also display their badges through social media.

Use and Acceptance: Micro-credentials and digital badges are now widely accepted by employers as evidence of competency in specific skills. They have been in use for roughly ten years, notably in the IT arena, where IBM has been a leader. IBM needed to train personnel to support rapidly changing product needs. Rather than using extended training programs, they developed training for minimum skillsets, and deployed this through online media. They awarded micro-credentials to successful candidates, and issued digital badges to certify the awards. Many other companies, large and small, are now using digital credentials, as are many academic institutions, including the University of Houston, and also Harvard, Cambridge, and a large number of other universities.

Students who have registered can withdraw from the course at any time. However, participants need to withdraw two days before start of classes to receive a refund. If you have paid for the Bronze bundle (all three badges) and would like to withdraw after completing a badge, you may do so two days before the start of classes for the next badge to receive a refund for the remaining badges.

If you cannot find the information you need on the webpage or in the other FAQs, please contact:

Program Resources

Sustainable Energy Development Program Info Session Video

Recording Date: July 9, 2020

Have Questions about the Sustainable Energy Development Program? Join program instructors on Thursday, July 9th from 10:00am - 10:45am to learn more and have your questions answered.

Info Session Slides DOWNLOAD SLIDES