Students Tackle Real World Hydrogen Challenges in H2A Hackathon
During the 2025 H2A Symposium, four students from the University of Amsterdam stepped away from the audience seats and into the thick of the hydrogen debate, taking part in a day long hackathon to address two of the most pressing challenges facing the sector: infrastructure development and industrial competitiveness.
Armed with two policy-based problem statements and a mandate to think boldly, the students observed panels throughout the day, drawing insight from top-level experts across industry, government, and academia. Their reflections not only captured the spirit of the symposium, but added a fresh, systems-level perspective to ongoing challenges.
Challenge 1: Infrastructure Deadlock, A Prisoner’s Dilemma
Their first task tackled the infamous “chicken-and-egg” conundrum of hydrogen infrastructure development. Drawing from the latest PBL (Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency) report, the students argued that the real issue isn’t just sequencing, it’s trust. They reframed the challenge as a classic prisoner’s dilemma, where key stakeholders (such as suppliers, distributors, and end-users) hesitate to invest unless others commit first.
Their solution? Start small, but start now. By creating short, demonstrable value chains, such as connecting a known hydrogen supplier with committed industrial offtakers, the government can help broker trust and cooperation. These “proof of concept” chains could de-risk broader investments and send the demand signals needed to get pipelines laid and electrolysers built.
Challenge 2: Keeping Industry Green and Here
The second question focused on the loss of chemical manufacturers from the Netherlands and the wider EU. With high energy taxes, limited access to green electricity, and growing policy pressure, companies are increasingly choosing to relocate.
The students proposed a three-pronged approach: repurpose the sites of departing manufacturers for greener companies, increase access to innovation subsidies, and accelerate electrification. At the heart of their solution was dialogue: bring industry and government to the table to understand the drivers of exit and design policy with both sustainability and competitiveness in mind.
Whether it was applying game theory to policy or proposing real-world coalitions for impact, the students brought creativity, insight, and practicality to the table, reminding all in attendance that the next generation isn’t just watching the energy transition unfold. They’re building it too.