COURSE DESCRIPTION
Do you want to deepen your understanding of hydrogen gas behavior in various scenarios—and at the same time strengthen your role in the green transition? This course provides knowledge of both controlled and uncontrolled reactions in hydrogen systems, with a focus on safety, efficiency, and practical application.
The course content is:
· Unignited releases
Expanded and under-expanded jets
· Ignition of hydrogen mixtures
Piloted and spontaneous ignition
· Deflagrations and detonations
Vented and non-vented deflagrations
Vented and non-vented detonations
DDT, deflagration to detonation transition
· Jet flames
Froude-based correlations
Blow-off phenomenon
Jet flame characteristics
Study hours
40 hours distributed over 5 weeks
Seminars
November, 14th at 11:00-12:30
November, 28th at 11:00-12:30
December, 12th at 11:00-12:30
Dates and times can be discussed online among participants once the course starts. It is ok to eat lunch during the seminars.
Target group
This course is aimed at professionals working in or entering fields related to safety of hydrogen handling and hydrogen infrastructure. Specifically, it is relevant for engineers and technical professionals in all fields where hydrogen is used.
Entry requirements
Bachelor's degree of at least 180 ECTS, or equivalent, which includes courses of at least 60 ECTS in engineering and/or natural sciences. Alternatively other courses and practical experience. The latter can be validated through an interview or written test.
Examination
In order to pass the course the student must:
- Attend the three compulsory online meetings.
- Write an essay which is reviewed by other students and approved by the teacher.
- Pass four compulsory quizzes.
Education provider
Luleå University of Technology
Teacher: Michael Först
As an energy carrier, hydrogen plays a crucial role in decarbonization and the future of a low-carbon society, where hydrogen production is one of the most important steps in the hydrogen chain. Hydrogen itself can be produced from different processes, and different colors were used to identify the environmental impact, where green hydrogen has been identified as the best in the future. However, the green hydrogen covers only about 1% of the world's production, even with increasing interest. Therefore, learning more about the green hydrogen production will be essential to reach the goal. In the course of hydrogen production, different technologies will be briefly discussed, and the green hydrogen production via water electrolysis or biomass gasification will be the focus, where the principle, component, process, together with sector coupling, will be discussed, and the state-of-the-art and the potential will be covered. To combine with specific implementation and special interests, one seminar, together with a report, will be arranged. It is expected that after this course, basic knowledge of hydrogen production technologies as well as their state-of-the-art and challenges will be clarified; Specific knowledge on the green hydrogen product from principle to the process will be provided, and the students can propose their ideas on how to promote green hydrogen production. Course StartSeptember, 22nd 2025 Seminars- September, 22nd 2025 at 13:00- Week 41, date and time to be decided- October 24th, 2025 at 13:00 Study hours40 hours over 4 weeks time Target GroupThis course is aimed at professionals working in or entering fields related to energy, sustainability, and environmental technologies and is especially beneficial for those with an interest in green hydrogen production and its practical implementation within the broader context of a low-carbon society. Specifically, it is relevant for: Engineers and technical professionals in the energy sector who want to deepen their understanding of hydrogen technologies. Researchers and scientists focused on renewable energy, decarbonization, or green technologies. Policy makers and energy consultants involved in shaping or advising on energy transition strategies. Project managers and business developers working in the development or implementation of hydrogen-based projects. Graduate students and academic professionals pursuing advanced studies or research in energy systems, chemical engineering, or environmental science. Entry RequirementsMOOC Hydrogen for sustainable solutions. Other courses or practical experience. This can be validated through and interview or written test. Please note that the number of participants for this course is limited, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible! Education providerLuleå University of TechnologyTeacher: Xiaoyan Ji
Hydrogen will play a major role in the transition to a low-carbon society. Still, it also introduces demanding conditions for materials and components across the entire value chain, from production and compression to storage, transport, and end-use. Many of the most critical technical risks in hydrogen systems are materials-related, including loss of ductility and premature fracture, accelerated fatigue, unexpected leakage, seal degradation, corrosion, and performance degradation over time. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for making safe, reliable, and cost-effective engineering decisions. This course offers a practical, engineering-focused introduction to materials in the hydrogen economy, including catalysts in hydrogen production and materials used in hydrogen storage and transportation, as well as their impact on component lifetime and system safety. You will learn how hydrogen enters materials, how it moves (diffusion and permeation), where it accumulates (trapping sites), and how these processes can trigger degradation. A special focus is placed on hydrogen embrittlement in metals, particularly in steels and welded joints, because these materials are widely used in pipelines, pressure vessels, fittings, and structural components. The course also covers non-metallic materials that are crucial for hydrogen infrastructure, including polymers, elastomers, and coatings used in liners, seals, hoses, gaskets, and protective layers. In addition to the fundamental mechanisms, the course connects theory to real engineering choices. You will discuss which materials are suitable under different hydrogen conditions (pressure, temperature, purity, moisture, cycling), what typical failure modes look like, and what mitigation strategies can be used in practice, such as material selection, heat treatment, surface engineering/coatings, design measures, operating-window choices, and inspection/testing approaches. The course also introduces materials challenges in key hydrogen technologies such as electrolysers and storage solutions, highlighting how degradation and compatibility issues influence performance and maintenance needs. You will also discuss hydrogen carriers and their storage and utilization solutions. The teaching format combines short, focused lectures with seminar discussions and an applied assignment. Participants are encouraged to bring examples from their own work or studies (for example, a pipeline material choice, a valve and seal problem, a storage tank concept, or an electrolyser component, chemical and physical storage systems) and use these as case studies during seminars and in the final assignment. By the end of the course, you will have both the conceptual framework and the practical tools needed to evaluate materials risks in hydrogen applications and make better-informed decisions for real systems. What you will be able to do after the course After completing the course, you will be able to: Explain key mechanisms of hydrogen–materials interactions and their consequencesIdentify materials-related risks in hydrogen production, storage, and transportationEvaluate and justify materials choices for hydrogen components and systemsPropose mitigation strategies (design choices, coatings, operating conditions, testing/inspection approaches) Course structure (March 2–31) 6 lectures: Overview of hydrogen economy and materials, Materials in hydrogen production, Hydrogen materials interaction-core concepts, mechanisms, and engineering implications, Hydrogen Carriers, and materials selection and design2 seminars: discussion of case studies and participant problems/components1 assignment: applied analysis/report linked to a realistic hydrogen application (can be connected to your work/project) March 2 Lecture-Introduction 10:00-10:45 Farid Akhtar Introduction March 5 Lecture I 09:30-11:00 Valentina Zaccaria hydrogen production and utilization – An overview March 6 Lecture II 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Materials in Hydrogen Infrastrucutre- An Overview March 12 Lecture III 10:00-12:30 Alberto Vomiero/Marshet Sendeku Materials in Hydrogen production and conversion March 17 Lecture IV 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanism and Theory March 19 Seminar I 10:00-12:00 Farid Akhtar Topic I March 23 Lecture V 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Mitigating Hydrogen embrittlement: Materials selection and development March 26 Seminar II 10:00-12:00 Farid Akhtar Topic II March 30 Discussion/White Board 09:30-11:00 Farid Akhtar Sorting Challenges For whom Engineers and professionals working with hydrogen technologies (or planning hydrogen projects)Master’s students in relevant fields Entry requirements Recommended background in engineering/natural sciences (materials/mechanics/chemistry/physics or equivalent). Relevant professional experience can also qualify. Examination Based on: Assignment (report and/or presentation)Participation in lectures, seminars and discussions Course responsible/examiner: Farid Akhtar
Hydrogen will play a major role in the transition to a low-carbon society. Still, it also introduces demanding conditions for materials and components across the entire value chain, from production and compression to storage, transport, and end-use. Many of the most critical technical risks in hydrogen systems are materials-related, including loss of ductility and premature fracture, accelerated fatigue, unexpected leakage, seal degradation, corrosion, and performance degradation over time. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for making safe, reliable, and cost-effective engineering decisions. This course offers a practical, engineering-focused introduction to materials in the hydrogen economy, including catalysts in hydrogen production and materials used in hydrogen storage and transportation, as well as their impact on component lifetime and system safety. You will learn how hydrogen enters materials, how it moves (diffusion and permeation), where it accumulates (trapping sites), and how these processes can trigger degradation. A special focus is placed on hydrogen embrittlement in metals, particularly in steels and welded joints, because these materials are widely used in pipelines, pressure vessels, fittings, and structural components. The course also covers non-metallic materials that are crucial for hydrogen infrastructure, including polymers, elastomers, and coatings used in liners, seals, hoses, gaskets, and protective layers. In addition to the fundamental mechanisms, the course connects theory to real engineering choices. You will discuss which materials are suitable under different hydrogen conditions (pressure, temperature, purity, moisture, cycling), what typical failure modes look like, and what mitigation strategies can be used in practice, such as material selection, heat treatment, surface engineering/coatings, design measures, operating-window choices, and inspection/testing approaches. The course also introduces materials challenges in key hydrogen technologies such as electrolysers and storage solutions, highlighting how degradation and compatibility issues influence performance and maintenance needs. You will also discuss hydrogen carriers and their storage and utilization solutions. The teaching format combines short, focused lectures with seminar discussions and an applied assignment. Participants are encouraged to bring examples from their own work or studies (for example, a pipeline material choice, a valve and seal problem, a storage tank concept, or an electrolyser component, chemical and physical storage systems) and use these as case studies during seminars and in the final assignment. By the end of the course, you will have both the conceptual framework and the practical tools needed to evaluate materials risks in hydrogen applications and make better-informed decisions for real systems. What you will be able to do after the course After completing the course, you will be able to: Explain key mechanisms of hydrogen–materials interactions and their consequencesIdentify materials-related risks in hydrogen production, storage, and transportationEvaluate and justify materials choices for hydrogen components and systemsPropose mitigation strategies (design choices, coatings, operating conditions, testing/inspection approaches) Course structure (March 2–31) 6 lectures: Overview of hydrogen economy and materials, Materials in hydrogen production, Hydrogen materials interaction-core concepts, mechanisms, and engineering implications, Hydrogen Carriers, and materials selection and design2 seminars: discussion of case studies and participant problems/components1 assignment: applied analysis/report linked to a realistic hydrogen application (can be connected to your work/project) March 2 Lecture-Introduction 10:00-10:45 Farid Akhtar Introduction March 5 Lecture I 09:30-11:00 Valentina Zaccaria hydrogen production and utilization – An overview March 6 Lecture II 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Materials in Hydrogen Infrastrucutre- An Overview March 12 Lecture III 10:00-12:30 Alberto Vomiero/Marshet Sendeku Materials in Hydrogen production and conversion March 17 Lecture IV 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanism and Theory March 19 Seminar I 10:00-12:00 Farid Akhtar Topic I March 23 Lecture V 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Mitigating Hydrogen embrittlement: Materials selection and development March 26 Seminar II 10:00-12:00 Farid Akhtar Topic II March 30 Discussion/White Board 09:30-11:00 Farid Akhtar Sorting Challenges For whom Engineers and professionals working with hydrogen technologies (or planning hydrogen projects)Master’s students in relevant fields Entry requirements Recommended background in engineering/natural sciences (materials/mechanics/chemistry/physics or equivalent). Relevant professional experience can also qualify. Examination Based on: Assignment (report and/or presentation)Participation in lectures, seminars and discussions Course responsible/examiner: Farid Akhtar
Nuclear power technology has been a major asset since the mid-70s for decarbonizing electricity generation and for decreasing our reliance on fossil fuel. With more than 400 nuclear reactors currently in operation worldwide (more than 90 being in Western Europe) and more than 50 under construction, nuclear reactors will play a significant role for many years to come. By following this course, you will be able to understand the development of this technology from its early days, how it works, its advantages, disadvantages, limitations, and how it may contribute to climate-change mitigation. This course provides a holistic perspective and increased knowledge in nuclear reactor technology. Topics Part 1: Nuclear power: an old story...: 3 chapters detailing the underlying principles of nuclear reactors for the purpose of understanding the history of the development of nuclear power: Elementary concepts in nuclear physics. Working principles of nuclear reactors. History of world nuclear power development. Part 2: Nuclear reactor technology: 11 chapters focusing on how a nuclear reactor works, with emphasis on Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology. Both the phenomenological and engineering aspects of nuclear reactors are covered. Electricity production. Reactor generations. Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology. Thermodynamic analysis of LWRs. Neutron cycle. Fuel depletion. Reactor control. Reactor dynamics. Reactor operation. Fundamental principles of reactor safety. Nuclear fuel. Part 3: Nuclear power, saving the world? 5 chapters explaining the aspects of nuclear power to be considered in a climate mitigation perspective, and the advantages/disadvantages/limitations of this technology. Nuclear fuel, waste and resources. Proliferation risks. Risks. Cost of electricity. Conclusions. Course structure and set-up This is a self-paced course made of video lectures and interactive quizzes, which means that you can start and finish the course whenever you want. The course is free of charge and is given in English. The resources need to be studied sequentially. You cannot bypass given resources unless all previous learning activities were taken: For the video lectures, this means watching the video recording. For the quizzes, this means correctly answering the quiz questions, for which an unlimited number of attempts is allowed. For a few quizzes slightly more involved, you will be able to access the following resources even if you fail to find the correct answer. After completing the course, you will be issued a course certificate. Completing the course means reaching the end of the course, for which you need to have watched all video lectures and attempted all quizzes (the vast majority of the quizzes also require to have found the correct answer to the quiz questions). Expected amount of work Completing the entire course takes about 40 hours of work. Level of the course Basic. A BSc in Engineering or similar knowledge is required. As all principles presented in the course are derived from scratch, any participant with an engineering background will be able to comprehend the course.
The EU’s circular economy strategy increases the need for expertise in the use of sustainable and recycled materials. This course provides tools and knowledge for the use of sustainable materials, development towards sustainability of existing materials, recycled and upcycled materials and how they contribute to the green transition through reduced energy consumption, longer lifespan, reduced costs, reduced waste volumes, better user-friendliness and opportunities for social entrepreneurship. The course will give you the opportunity to work on your own project in your own context and include different creative and practical tools. Course content Part 1: Introduction to the Circular Economy Part 2: Design for Recycling Part 3: Use of Recycled Materials Part 4: Substitution with Sustainable Alternatives Part 5: Conditions for Circular Systems and Economies Course design Open online course with pre-recorded lectures, interview and workshops, with reading, reflection and creative assignments. Self-paced, start and finish when you want to. This course takes about 80 hours to complete. You will learn How circular economy, material flows and sustainable materials can be understood in a broader sustainability context. Using various tools and models to analyze and improve material flows and product design. Practically apply and implement the knowledge in the course to their own business or a chosen project. Who is the course for? The course is aimed at professionals in industry, waste management, construction, material production, product development, recycling solutions, local and regional government, design and different creative professions. It is also open to students on all levels and participants without an academic background who want to deepen their knowledge in circular economy and sustainable material choices.
Kursperiod 3/11 2025 till 18/1 2026 Batterier har en viktig roll i den gröna energiomställningen både som energilager på nätet och framförallt i elektrifieringen av transportsektorn. Elektrifierande vägtransporter är idag helt beroende av batterier som energilager och batterierna och hur de används har påverkan på fordonens räckvidd. Den här kursen har som mål att ge ökad förståelse av laddning, urladdning och smart kontroll av batterier. Bättre kunskap om batterier, batteristyrningssystem och laddningsoptimering leder till bättre batterianvändning vilket i sin tur leder till mer hållbar användning av både energi och resurser. Innehåll Kursen ska ge en grundkunskap om batterier, batterianvändning och speciellt batteristyrningssystem (BMS). Innehåll: Grundläggande kunskap om batterier och dess användning som energilager. Estimering av state-of-health (SoH) och state-of-charge (SoC). Batteristyrningssystem. Algoritmer för batteristyrning. Anpassning till olika användningsområden och användningsscenarier. Optimering av laddning. Datorsimulering av batteristyrningssystem och analys av resultaten. Kursens upplägg Helt på distans. Förinspelade föreläsningar, digitala föreläsningar (live), hemuppgifter (datorsimuleringar + quiz). Kursen ges på engelska. Det krävs en arbetsinsats på ca 80h för att slutföra kursen. Du kommer att få kunskap om Efter godkänd kurs ska deltagaren kunna: Översiktligt beskriva batteriers uppbyggnad och deras användning som energilager inom transportsektorn och på elnätet, planera och analysera kompletta system för elektrokemisk energilagring där batterier integreras med elektronisk styrning och andra hjälpsystem för avsett användningsområde, diskutera och motivera användningen av olika algoritmer samt tillämpa tekniker för kontroll och styrning av batterisystem för optimal prestanda och livslängd, Genomföra simuleringar av ett kontrollsystem för, och användning av, batterier (batteristyrningssystem (BMS)) och analysera och dra slutsatser från simuleringsresultat. Vem vänder sig kursen till? Yrkesgrupp: Ingenjörer som börjat arbeta med batterier och/eller vill lära sig mer om batterier och batteristyrningssystem. Utbildningsbakgrund: Gärna ingenjörsutbildning. Lämplig bakgrundskunskap: Gärna grundläggande elektroteknik men inget krav.