Energy transition starts with Human Capital

A meaningful discussion about the importance of training people for the energy transition. The Dutch northern region holds all the cards to play a leading role not only in the new hydrogen economy, but throughout the entire energy transition. For the Netherlands and for Europe. The availability of sufficient and well-trained personnel is vital for this. All parties in the region are working hard to achieve this education challenge. But more is needed. More coordination, more funding, more support, more urgency, and more speed. The challenge and the opportunities are too great to sit back now.

Read Marieke Abbink's opening contribution again below or see this link the Barntalk is back.

Speech Barn Talk November 4, 2020

Ladies and gentlemen:

In 2015, all 195 countries in the world signed the Paris Climate Agreement. We made agreements to combat climate change. The goal of the agreement is to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius.

To achieve that goal, we've agreed in Europe to reduce CO2030 emissions by at least 40% by 2 compared to 1990 levels. And to achieve that, we also need to rethink how we generate energy. A significant portion of CO2 emissions is caused by the type of energy used. The energy transition—the shift from oil, natural gas, and coal to sustainable energy—is therefore a crucial means of achieving that goal.

The Human Factor

I could easily talk about the fantastic technologies available to shape this energy transition. I could also talk about the innovations that exist and the investments planned, both within and outside our region. But that's not the topic now.

Because all that technology and all those innovations wouldn't be possible without the human factor. It's not without reason that the Social and Economic Council (SER) issued its recommendation that we collectively face a major challenge in providing the required labor in the sustainable energy sector. together to organise.

Without the people who (will) work in the new energy sectors, it won't work. Because the new jobs often don't seamlessly connect with the work people do now, and that work may disappear. The Social and Economic Council (SER) considers it a clear responsibility of the social partners and the government to make it a good fit.

Not by itself

This challenge will not be easy. Rapid measures are needed in many areas. In existing sectors such as construction and installation, the labor shortage is growing. Employee and employer organizations must work together at the national, regional, and sectoral levels to find solutions. Labor market opportunities must be assessed and utilized regionally, as people often look for work and training in their home region. Collaboration between employer and employee organizations, government agencies, and regional organizations is crucial for success. Various initiatives have already been launched at the regional level to retrain and upskill people and to involve more people. Consider, for example, the RIF program Gas 2.0, which was established with all regional vocational colleges (MBOs) to train the energy professionals of the future.

Without motivated and well-trained people, we're nothing. It's not technology, but people that drive progress. And the importance extends even further: all these people have jobs, earn money, want somewhere to live, consume, have children, need schools, healthcare, transportation, recreation... And that's how a livable society is built.

Noord-Nederland

Now to our region. The human factor has always played a major role in the energy sector in our region. Many thousands of people have found and continue to find work, directly or indirectly, in the gas industry. It has boosted employment, the knowledge industry, and the economy.

But times are changing. The earthquakes are drastically reducing gas production. However, we must be careful not to lose all the jobs, and with them the economic strength we've built up. That shouldn't happen. And it shouldn't have to.

Precisely in Noord-Nederland There are also enormous opportunities. Take hydrogen, for example.

Hydrogen and Human Capital

Noord-Nederland will become the center of the developing hydrogen economy in the coming years. Hydrogen as a green energy carrier is one of the foundations for a sustainable future. And I know, questions are still being raised here and there. But I assure you: it's not a question of IF hydrogen is the future, but only HOW we make that future a reality. There is no other way, and we've been working on it for years.

Noord-Nederland has been declared the first hydrogen region by Europe (Hydrogen Valley) in Europe. This creates significant opportunities for the region: growth, innovation, and employment. We can transform our leading position in natural gas into a leading position in hydrogen.

The new hydrogen economy will also create new jobs. Jobs will be created in the development and maintenance of offshore wind energy, solar energy, electrolyzers, transportation, and the chemical industry, for example. But also in hydrogen transport, storage, and trading. These jobs will be available at all levels, from vocational education (MBO) to university level.

The availability of sufficient skilled expertise in the region is vital for this. Only if we have the people can we successfully develop the first hydrogen valley.

Joined hands

In our region, businesses, knowledge institutions, and educational institutions have joined forces. We realize that more is needed than just a course here or a training session there.

Under the name: Waterstof Werkt We aim to establish a continuous learning pathway in the region in the short term, focusing on knowledge related to the Hydrogen Economy. This will include training, research, internships, work-study programs, training, and courses at the vocational (MBO), higher professional (HBO), university (WO), and executive levels. Educational institutions in the region will collaborate on a coordinated approach.

Collaboration between businesses, civil society organizations, knowledge institutions, and government agencies is crucial to the success of Waterstof Werkt. Educational activities can be improved, intensified, and, above all, mutually coordinated during the learning process. This can be done based on market needs and the investment agendas of regional businesses.

Foundation of our society

The hydrogen investment program in the region, launched nationally last week, offers significant opportunities for our knowledge base and employment. The hydrogen economy is estimated to create over 40.000 new jobs in the region in the future. These include jobs, salaries, housing, groceries, children, schools, sports clubs… In short, it's a vital foundation for our regional society.

shoulders below

So let's pull together to make the necessary investments in new technology and innovations possible. But at the same time, we also invest in the human capital needed for the energy transition. The hands and minds that will make this enormous challenge possible and form the foundation for a sustainable and promising future for our region.