A Hydrogen Hub Blueprint for the California Supply Chain

Workforce development is a cornerstone for the sustainable growth of the hydrogen fuel industry. As the world accelerates its transition to clean energy, investing in education, training, and research initiatives will not only meet the current demand for skilled workers but also ensure the industry's resilience and adaptability in the face of evolving challenges. By nurturing a skilled and diverse workforce, the hydrogen fuel industry can play a pivotal role in achieving a green and sustainable transportation sector.

The trade and transportation sector faces a current and projected shortage of labor. As outlined in the literature review below, labor shortages are occurring for a range of reasons, including a lack of new entrants, a lack of awareness about careers in transportation, an aging and retiring workforce, and a myriad of new transformational technologies. This wide range of factors redefines the necessary skills for newcomers and creates skills gaps when unaddressed. Reports from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 2015, state that more than 50% of workers in warehousing and transportation would be eligible for retirement over the next 10 years, with trends of high retirement rates expected to continue throughout 2031.

The global transition toward sustainable and clean energy sources has propelled the hydrogen fuel industry into the spotlight. As governments, industries, and consumers alike recognize the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, the demand for skilled professionals in the hydrogen fuel sector is on the rise. Workforce development plays a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable and efficient hydrogen economy, ensuring that the industry can meet its potential while addressing the challenges associated with the energy transition.

The hydrogen fuel industry encompasses various technologies, including hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization. Hydrogen can be produced through various methods, such as electrolysis, natural gas reforming, and biomass gasification. Once produced, hydrogen needs a robust infrastructure for storage, transportation, and distribution before being utilized in fuel cells for electricity generation or as a feedstock in industrial processes. 

The importance of hydrogen in achieving a low-carbon future cannot be overstated. It is a versatile energy carrier that can be produced from diverse sources, offering a viable solution for decarbonizing sectors such as transportation, industry, and power generation.

The Hydrogen Hub Blueprint will provide recommendations for statewide CSU inter-campus partnerships to launch new talent pipelines and develop non-degree certifications to help incumbent and displaced workers rapidly add skills to compete for in-demand trade and transportation occupations. Those recommendations would include suggested strategic partnerships between industry leaders, CSU colleges of professional and continuing education, community colleges, and organized labor.