Implementing the study of hydrogen in Portuguese schools with a view to creating a pool of technicians specialized in this renewable energy source is the objective of the new project by Clearenergy, a newly associated company of AIP located in the Polytechnic Campus of Portalegre.
The year 2023 could represent a historic milestone in the energy transition in Portugal if there is a firm investment in hydrogen literacy, at all levels of education. New didactic programs will put an end to prejudices and stop wasting resources on invasive and environmentally harmful technologies.
“Due to the current climate emergency and energy dependence and following the excellent dynamics of the training program, in the area of hydrogen literacy, developed by the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre and promoted in partnership with AIP, we are forced to rethink priorities considering it fundamental to incorporate in the our portfolio of products and educational programs for hydrogen literacy, as catalysts in the development of a critical mass and value chain for the rapid energy transition", highlights Eduardo Pereira, partner at Clearenergy, specialist in shipbuilding and machinery technology, manager of ship repairs and industrial researcher with two patents and two industrial models.
Clearenergy is dedicated to the commercialization and implementation of technologies for sustainable energy storage as a solution for the intermittence in the production of non-invasive renewable energies - sun, wind and tides -, namely hydrogen and its synthetic derivatives.
Combating shortages and labor leakage
In the area of education, the company sells equipment and programs in “STEAM & DIY” format, specific for hydrogen literacy and renewable energies, representing the “HorizonEducational” and “HeliocentrisAcademia”, brands covering all age groups, from basic education to the most sophisticated laboratory for research and development of new solutions.
The study of hydrogen, the most abundant molecule in the universe and the least harmful to the environment, is, in our country, at an embryonic stage, according to the analysis of Eduardo Pereira: “It is reserved for university laboratories. There is a huge lack of critical mass at the level of the most influential stakeholders on topics such as technology, potential and its comparative advantages and the lack of human resources for projects in the hydrogen production industries already in the pipeline. Bringing the science of hydrogen to all schools in the country, including it in their curricula, will feed the nursery of experts in H2 subjects, essential in the energy transition to sustainability”.
In addition to the workforce needed for industrial hydrogen production projects already in the pipeline, “the mobility sector, where hydrogen appears as a credible alternative, is also experiencing a period of uncertainty, with part of the workforce leaving the automotive mechatronics courses with reduced prospects from 2035 onwards”, underlines that researcher when advancing another worrying fact that confirms the lack of professionals: “It is noteworthy that during the benchmarking to attract manufacturers to the national market, some still refuse to export to Portugal for shortage of national critical mass in this sector”.
Denomination: CLEARENERGY – ENERGIAS RENOVÁVEIS, LDA
Municipality: Portalegre
Sector: Services
CAE: Testing activities and technical analysis.
Manager: Eduardo Pereira
Products/services: Commercialization and implementation of technologies for sustainable energy storage as a solution for the intermittence in the production of non-invasive renewable energies (sun, wind and tides), namely hydrogen and its synthetic derivatives.
Main short and medium-term objectives: There is a huge lack of critical mass at the level of the most influential stakeholders on topics such as technology, potential and its comparative advantages and the lack of human resources for projects in the hydrogen production industries already in portfolio. Bringing the science of hydrogen to all schools in the country, including it in their curricula, will feed the nursery of experts in H2 subjects, essential in the energy transition to sustainability.
