Worcester Polytechnic Institute Awarded $1M To Boost Hydrogen Energy Careers

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester Polytechnic Institute was awarded $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation.

The award is meant to develop hands-on training, internships and mentoring aimed at expanding the hydrogen energy workforce.

WPI will collaborate with Western New England University in Springfield, regional community colleges and industry partners to create a one-year course to prepare nontraditional workers for careers in fields that hydrogen-sector leaders need

Organizers plan to train 40 people over three years. Students will receive stipends, spend weeks in training, and be placed in internships for about three months.

The program will help students find roles, including fuel cell and electrolyzer technicians or engineers, and hydrogen infrastructure specialists.

Hydrogen has a potential role in solving a clean-energy conundrum: generating energy by tapping the sun and wind, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, storing hydrogen, transporting it, and converting it into electricity.

“Students will gain theoretical knowledge about hydrogen while also getting hands-on experience during industry internships,” said Mehdi Mortazavi, prinicipal investigator and associate teaching professor at WPI. “After three years, we aim to have a blueprint that can be adapted to prepare workers in other regions for jobs in any emerging technology industry, not just hydrogen energy.”

See Also:

• Worcester Nonprofit To Host Meat Raffle To Support Hunger Relief Efforts
• 9 From Worcester County Among 56 Charged In MA Child Sex Abuse Investigation
• 2 Worcester Elementary Schools Could Get Roof, Window Replacements