Hydrogen Challenge

About the Hydrogen Challenge

• Challenge Workshops are already fully developed and tested (10 years of delivery and feedback). 
• Workshops explore renewable energies, hydrogen and fuel cells and the possibilities that they offer for a low-carbon future. 
• The workshop is designed to inform and inspire the next generation of renewable energy engineers, guiding them towards careers in engineering, environmental sciences and the development of cleaner, greener transport.
• The Hydrogen Challenge puts the technology of the future into the hands of young people – challenging them to design the most energy efficient hydrogen powered vehicle.
• Custom-designed LEGO kits and 2W hydrogen fuel cells designed by Arcola Energy are used in the workshop.
• Workshops and education kits have been designed with extensive input from teachers, education authorities and education consultants to deliver specific curriculum requirements. Success in achieving this has been confirmed by consistently positive teacher feedback.

Workshop Breakdown

• Age Range: Designed for 9 to 16 (adaptable for ages 5 to 75+)
• Group Size: 30 (up to 240 in a single session)
• Team Size: 3 to 4 participants per team
• Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
   – Welcome – 5 mins
   – Introduction – 15 mins
   – Build/Test/Repeat – 60-90 mins
   – Winners – 5 mins
   – Plenary – 5-10 mins

Learning Outcomes

• Hydrogen fuel cells: exploring the role that hydrogen could play within a low-carbon society
• Electrolysis as a method for generating hydrogen
• Iteration based scientific enquiry
• Designing for efficiency
• Mechanical engineering
• Gears and ratios: balancing power and speed
• Renewable energies vs. Fossil fuels

Delivery Formats

• One-off School Workshop – A single workshop or full day of workshops delivered by Arcola Energy staff. 
• City/Regional Inter-School Competition – Multiple workshops delivered across schools in a particular area, typically in partnership with a local University, the team with the most efficient car from each workshop are invited to represent their school at a high-profile final event, competing against other schools. Prizes are awarded to all finalists with three grand-prizes for the schools whose teams win 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
• National/International Inter-School Competition – Workshops delivered across an entire country or across multiple countries, partnering with Universities in each delivery location, each location hosts a final which feeds into a National/International Grand Final. 
• Science Festival Drop-in Session (see Festivals & Events)
• Science Festival Structured Workshop (see Festivals & Events)
• Public Event Drop-in Session (see Festivals & Events)

Delivery Model

• Workshop Content – Our experience with project-based funding has allowed us to develop a workshop model that can be easily tailored to maintain local relevance or draw attention to a particular project/product/institution.
• University Partnerships – Since 2016 we have developed a robust system for employing students, researchers, lecturers and alumni as workshop facilitators, providing extensive training and the opportunity to engage with and inspire young people towards higher education.

Previous Hydrogen Challenges: 

• Indonesian Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2018 – As part of the ‘Zero Emission Mobility and Education Programme for the Asian Games 2018’, delivering workshops in Jakarta, Palembang, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surakarta, supported by Serba Dinamik, Ecubes Arcola, The Governor of South Sumatra and Imperial College London. 
• Aberdeen Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2019 – Funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry and supported by HyTrEc2, Aberdeen City Council and Toyota GB.
• London Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2012 to 2016 – Annual Competition supported by Mayor of London, Transport for London, Hydrogen London and ITM Power.
  Finals held at the London Mayor’s Offices 2012 to 2015 and Siemens’ The Crystal 2016.
• Aberdeen Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2014 to 2015 – Supported by Aberdeen City Council, H2Aberdeen, First Aberdeen, HyTrEc and The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
  Finals held at The Satrosphere Science Centre.
• Hull Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2016 – Supported by The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Ingenious Grant. 
  Final held at Hull University.
• South Wales Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2016 – Supported by The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Ingenious Grant.
  Final held at Techniquest Science Centre, Cardiff.
• Isle of Wight Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2014 to 2015 – Supported by The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Island Hydrogen and Isle of Wight Council.
• Sheffield & Rotherham Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2015 – Supported by Sheffield City Council, The Advanced Manufacturing Park and ITM Power.
• Orkney Schools Hydrogen Challenge 2016 – Supported by Community Energy Scotland, The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and European Commission.