Students play a leading role on the second day of Wind Meets Gas
Imagine: the Martinikerk in Groningen filled with international dignitaries, policymakers, and professionals to discuss the balance between sustainability, energy security, and affordability in a changing geopolitical landscape. The day before, participants listened to various keynotes by national and international experts and professionals, attended engaging workshops, and networked with each other during matchmaking sessions. And now, as a student, you'll be taking that same stage on the second day of Wind Meets Gas to tell the audience about your energy project or solution. Presenting to such a large audience in such an impressive church isn't for everyone, as it can be quite daunting. Yet, the students on stage didn't seem bothered by it, presenting as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Hydrogen projects in practice
The second day of Wind Meets Gas began with a video announcement of the Baseload Power Hub called Phynix in Eemshaven, a panel discussion between local authorities on energy policy in Groningen, and a keynote by Barbara Verwayen about Cluster6 companies.
But soon the baton was passed to the talent of the future. Fred Knot (Alfa-college) took the stage together with Boudewijn, a Technician Engineering student at Alfa-college, to talk about the green hydrogen generator that they built. What makes this project special is the intensive collaboration between students from different educational levels. Vocational students from Alfa College and Noorderpoort were central to the construction, partly supported by knowledge and research from the Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the University of Groningen. This collaboration demonstrates how practical craftsmanship and theoretical knowledge reinforce each other.
After the presentation, participants could view the hydrogen generator and other hydrogen projects from Alfa College and Noorderpoort at the stands staffed by the vocational students.
Energy Kick Start
At the start of the new academic year in September, Entrance organised an Energy Kick Start for all students studying or interning at Entrance. 120 students tackled three energy issues. One of the issues was submitted by New Energy Coalition and focused on the implementation of a regional hydrogen network for IndustrieCluster Oost-Groningen. The results were presented to a professional jury using a poster and a video pitch. The prize the students could win? The three best teams were invited to present their solutions on the Wind Meets Gas stage to an expert jury and the rest of the symposium's attendees.
A month later, the students from 'Groningen Hydrogen Transition', 'GET Solutions', and 'HYDROCOMM' pitched their solutions to around 350 people in the Martinikerk. The jury, consisting of Dick Pouwels (Hanze), Harnold Braam (DNA), Arwin Nimis (DNA), and Catrinus Jepma (NEC), deliberated afterward and selected 'HYDROCOMM' as the winner, recognising its role in communication in the implementation of a hydrogen network.
Not only was the jury impressed by the pitch, but so was Jan van der Tempel, DOT Power and owner of Phynix. He spontaneously took the stage during the awards ceremony and offered the students of 'HYDROCOMM' a €5.000 communications project for the Baseload Power Hub. A perfect example of the saying "the youth are the future" put into practice.
