'Hydrogen is the future'
With the lab, Jan Maas has realized a dream
Over 120 people took a look at the brand-new hydrogen lab of HZ and Scalda during the official opening in early June. The new practice space is in the former ecology lab in the L-wing of HZ. Jan Maas of the Delta Power research group is the driving force behind the lab. "Hydrogen is the future," says the 70-year-old lecturer-researcher.
Eugène de Kok, editor HZ Discovery
Where the vast majority of his peers enjoy a well-deserved retirement, Jan Maas has just signed another one-year contract. This time at Scalda, after four consecutive one-year contracts (post-retirement) at HZ. "It doesn’t matter who I work for because this hydrogen lab belongs to both institutions." In the coming months, Maas will further shape the hydrogen lab with his colleagues from HZ and Scalda. He will also provide practical lessons for students together with Wim Huibregtse. That’s exactly what the lab is intended for. In the space, mbo and hbo students will learn about hydrogen. Professionals in the field can also get additional training.
As part of the European Just Transition Fund project HCA Green Hydrogen, eight (technical) mbo and eight hbo programs will receive new modules on green hydrogen. "If we start training professionals now, we will be ready when the first green hydrogen factories open in the Province of Zeeland," said project leader Gerben Huiszoon during the opening.
Maas wholeheartedly agrees. The lab is ‘a big step forward’. "I’ve always said we need to do something with hydrogen. It’s the future. I started at the Delta Power research group in 2017. There were already hydrogen experiments and a fuel cell in the cupboard, but no one did anything with them. Together with Bob Romboud, we dusted them off and started working with them. Scalda quickly showed interest besides HZ. That’s when the idea for the lab was born."
Fossil fuels
Maas explains that many large companies in the North Sea Port region, such as DOW, Yara, and Zeeland Refinery, already work a lot with hydrogen. These major players use about 50 percent of all hydrogen in the Netherlands. However, it’s grey hydrogen, made with the help of fossil fuels. A lot of CO2 is produced in the process. "We need to move away from that. We can also produce hydrogen in a green way using wind and sun. We teach our students how to do that here."
Maas demonstrates this with an experiment. The small windmill activates a coupled mini-electrolyzer, which splits the molecules in the demineralized water into oxygen and hydrogen atoms. He lets the oxygen escape into the air and collects the hydrogen in a test tube. "Students always find that an incredibly fun experiment." Judging by his smile, the teacher-researcher still enjoys it just as much. He holds a lighter to the tube and releases his thumb, producing a small but clear bang.
"There were hydrogen tests and a fuel cell in the cupboard, but nobody did anything with them."
"As long as I enjoy it and my spouse allows it, I will continue"
The experiment is educational and entertaining but also shows the dangers of the explosive gas, according to Maas. Hydrogen is invisible and odorless. When released, it immediately rises. A spark can be dangerous. "In the lab, we have sensors everywhere to continuously measure if this is happening. This prevents any mishaps."
There will be many small and larger setups, such as a fuel cell demo set (which shows how hydrogen can be converted into electricity via a fuel cell), sets for hydrogen practicals, a sustainable model home, fuel cells, and various types of electrolyzers. The hydrogen boat (formerly the solar boat) is the eye-catcher. "Bob and I quickly came up with the idea to convert the boat. We’ve now bought a fuel cell that we want to install so we can sail a lap. In the future, we might also put some solar panels on it to produce hydrogen again. They’re already doing that at TU Delft."
Scaling up production
Hydrogen is the fuel of the future, says Maas. "Producing hydrogen through electrolysis is still very expensive, but if you scale up, it will become cheaper naturally. Then it will sell like hotcakes. We work in the lab with devices of a few watts, but in the country, they’re already thinking about installations of multiple gigawatts. Then things move very quickly." According to him, the hydrogen transition is crucial to achieving the goal of being CO2-neutral by 2050. "A lot still needs to happen, but by 2030 the first electrolyzers should be operational. Then we’ll continue steadily. I’m optimistic that we will achieve all the goals. I hope to live to see it."
Stewards
Maas sees the hydrogen lab as a small but important cog in the transition. He is proud that it has opened. "I have an enormous enthusiasm for technology, but I also do this because of my faith. We have received this Earth on loan, and I believe we must take good care of it as stewards. That duty drives me. Thirty years ago, I went to the ministry to say that hydrogen was a promising form of energy. They looked at me strangely then, but now that plea is fortunately gaining more recognition."
Maas will continue working for HZ and Scalda for at least one more year. "Then I’ll see. As long as I enjoy it and my wife allows it, I’ll keep going. However, I also have four grandchildren I love taking care of. They also need time, so I take it year by year. Maybe I can teach my grandchildren a bit about hydrogen while babysitting."
The hydrogen lab was made possible by a financial contribution from the Zeeland Public Interests Foundation.
Jan Maas worked for Delta between 1987 and 2017. There, he always focused on projects around sustainable forms of energy. In 2017, he had to leave due to a major reorganisation. Lecturer Jacob van Berkel of HZ's Delta Power lectureship welcomed him with open arms. In the early years, the pair were mainly concerned with tidal energy. It was at a time when the province was toying with developing a tidal power plant in the Brouwers Dam. "Too bad those plans didn't go ahead. I think there are still huge opportunities for Zeeland in this area. There are calculations that we can generate 200 megawatts with this form, but the government is betting on wind and solar."