HYMAC Project is based on the implementation of an energy Plan in where the Hydrogen is the driving force of the Economy in the Macaronesian Region (Canarias, Azores, Madeira). These islands have a big diversity of renewable energies sources (biomass, wind, photovoltaic, hydraulic and geothermal) and are extremely dependent of conventional energetic systems, they are the perfect laboratories to develop prototype demonstration and educational projects. The HYMAC project belongs to the transnational cooperation programme of the European Commission called INTERREG-III-B.

Figure 1: Macaronesian Region

The Project drives its investigation, development and validation actions through seven key components and the education about the economy of hydrogen in all sectors of the society is very important

1.1 IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE SOCIETY

The education key component of the project is very important as the “Hydrogen Economy Perception in the Macaronesian Region". Its objectives are, firstly, educating about the new green fuel"; secondly, knowing the perception above the hydrogen in order to discover the advantages and, about all, the disadvantages that the target has in being participants in the road towards the hydrogen economy; and thirdly, as consequence of previous, eliminating the existing prejudices and making aware of the benefits which the clean vector can present in our society, in our economy and in our environment.

The target has been structured in several levels:

1. Not specialized public Level: an informative leaflet about the hydrogen economy has been elaborated.

2. Primary and Secondary Education Level: a training and educational guidelines have been developed and have been given out to the teachers and the pupils respectively. The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has developed a hydrogen guide, created to help interested teachers bring the exciting world of hydrogen to their students. Hydrogen and fuel cells are topics not often covered in classrooms or traditional textbooks. The activity guide uses several techniques to encourage students to document their thoughts, ideas and questions. Class discussions follow most activities, which allow students to discuss and share their thoughts-and learn from each other.

10 primary schools had been selected in the Lanzarote Island, but after the press release of the project, 53 centres of primary education of this island are requesting the educational guidelines.

The educational guia for high schools have been distributed to 2500 pupils between the islands of Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

As a complement of the educational guides, it has been developed in Lanzarote island a few workshops for the educational centers with different practical activities related to the hydrogen.

3. Universitary education Level: a specialization course in hydrogen technology of 200 hours will be given through university seminars.

4. Industrial-commercial level: have been elaborated a leaflet about the hydrogen economy, security, production and storage.

This educational program includes the following concepts:

• Hydrogen is used to power our cars, homes and business. • Hydrogen can be made from abundant and diverse resources found in the Macaronesian. • Technical basic design of the demonstration activities.