29 SEP 2025

Partnership to boost education, research, and industry–academia collaboration in support of the energy transition.

University of Ruhuna and Greenstat Hydrogen have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for cooperation in hydrogen research, innovation, and capacity development. The agreement aims to strengthen academia–industry collaboration and position Sri Lanka as an active player in the regional green hydrogen economy.

Expanding research and education

The MoU will support joint initiatives to expand hydrogen education, advance research and development, and create opportunities for students and academics to participate in applied hydrogen projects. By combining academic expertise with industry knowledge, the partnership seeks to build a skilled workforce and accelerate Sri Lanka’s transition to sustainable energy.

Ceremony and participants

The signing ceremony was attended by Senior Professor P.A. Jayantha, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna, together with Professor H.C.P. Karunasena, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Eng. Veditha De Silva, DMENA, Faculty of Engineering and Dr Sumith Baduge, Head of the Department of Marine Engineering & Naval Architecture. Greenstat Hydrogen was represented by Chairman Sturle H. Pedersen and Prasadini Wickramasinghe.

Featuring Sonia Ruiz Pérez, Product Manager, Gexcon 

Explore how advanced modelling tools are transforming safety protocols in the hydrogen sector. In this expert-led webinar, Sonia Ruiz Pérez, Product Manager for Gexcon’s EFFECTS & RISKCURVES software, presents a comprehensive overview of hydrogen hazard modelling—an essential component for ensuring safe operations in hydrogen production, storage, and transport.

With over a decade of experience in process safety, chemical release consequence modelling, and hydrogen explosion risk assessment, Sonia shares valuable insights into hydrogen properties, lessons learned from past incidents, and real-world case studies using EFFECTS and RISKCURVES.

This session is especially relevant for energy professionals, policymakers, engineers, and safety analysts looking to strengthen their understanding of hydrogen risk mitigation strategies and support the safe scale-up of green hydrogen infrastructure.

▶ Watch the full replay via the embedded YouTube link below to gain expert knowledge that can support safer design, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience.

A high-level meeting between India’s Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) and delegations from HAVTIL, Greenstat Asia, and Gexcon was recently held to discuss potential collaboration and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The meeting was described as both productive and engaging, focusing on how the organisations can work together to support and strengthen safety standards and practices across the energy sector.

Director General Shri Arun Mittal and his team at OISD warmly hosted the visiting delegation, facilitating insightful discussions on mutual areas of interest. The exchange highlighted the importance of leveraging shared expertise and experiences to address safety challenges in the energy industry.

All parties expressed their interest in continuing the dialogue and exploring ways to collaborate further, with the goal of enhancing safety frameworks within the energy sector.

Learn More:

• Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD)

• HAVTIL

In a significant step towards advancing the green hydrogen ecosystem in Asia, Greenstat Asia, together with HAVTIL and Gexcon, engaged in a productive meeting with the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in India. The meeting was graciously hosted by Dr. Mohammed Rihan, Director General of NISE, alongside his esteemed team, setting the stage for strategic cooperation in the hydrogen and renewable energy sectors.

The meeting focused on identifying collaborative opportunities that could accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen technologies across Asia, aligning with global decarbonisation goals. By bringing together industry leaders in hydrogen safety, technology deployment, and energy systems, the dialogue fostered knowledge exchange and reinforced the collective commitment to support India’s National Hydrogen Mission and broader energy transition efforts.

“We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Mohammed Rihan and his excellent team at NISE for hosting such an insightful and productive discussion,” said Sturle H. Pedersen, Chairman of Greenstat Asia. “It was a great pleasure exploring collaborative opportunities and exchanging valuable knowledge to support each other in accelerating the transition towards a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem. We look forward to strengthening this cooperation further.”

In a key dialogue on Sri Lanka’s renewable energy future, Greenstat Asia Chairman Sturle Harald Pedersen met with the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Harini Amarasuriya, to explore long-term collaboration in green hydrogen education, research, and capacity building.

The discussion focused on strengthening institutional partnerships to advance Sri Lanka’s hydrogen roadmap, combining international expertise with local innovation.

Also present at the meeting were Nalaka Kaluwewe, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, and Prasadini Wickramasinghe, Coordinator of the Greenstat Centre of Excellence for Hydrogen (COE-H) in Sri Lanka.

Advancing hydrogen partnerships in research and higher education

Mr. Pedersen outlined Greenstat’s mission to support Sri Lanka’s clean energy goals and shared recent progress in developing a national ecosystem for hydrogen research and knowledge exchange.

Hydrogen Master’s Degree Programme

Greenstat is collaborating with Sri Lankan universities to launch the country’s first Master’s programme in green hydrogen. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed with the University of Peradeniya, with further agreements underway with the University of Moratuwa, University of Jaffna, and University of Ruhuna.

Research tools and capacity building

Through the COE-H, Greenstat is integrating advanced software tools such as EFFECTS and RISKCURVES into university curricula. These tools are essential for training students in process safety, consequence modelling, and risk assessment in hydrogen production and storage.

Promoting skills and awareness in hydrogen technologies

Beyond academic collaboration, Greenstat’s initiatives focus on creating a skilled workforce and raising public awareness on green hydrogen.

Open-access webinars and training

The COE-H conducts free webinars covering various segments of the hydrogen value chain, offering knowledge-sharing opportunities for students, professionals, and policymakers.

Clean Marine Pilot Project in Bentota

In partnership with Midwest Energy, Greenstat Hydrogen Sri Lanka is piloting a hydrogen-electric boat project in the Bentota estuary. The initiative aims to decarbonise inland water transport in tourism and fisheries sectors by replacing ageing diesel vessels with clean, quiet electric alternatives—protecting ecosystems and improving visitor experience.

Building momentum for hydrogen education in Sri Lanka

During the meeting, Prime Minister Amarasuriya acknowledged Greenstat’s commitment to sustainable development and expressed interest in expanding hydrogen-related content in technical and vocational education. Emphasis was placed on aligning curriculum development with global energy transition trends and preparing youth for emerging green jobs.

A message from Greenstat Asia

“We envision the Centre of Excellence as a national platform for international collaboration—from research partnerships to skills development,” said Mr. Sturle Pedersen, Chairman of Greenstat Asia and Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Bergen–Vestland. “We are grateful for the Ministry’s support in shaping a workforce ready to power a hydrogen-driven future.”

Greenstat Hydrogen Sri Lanka: Supporting the energy transition

Greenstat Hydrogen Sri Lanka is a knowledge and innovation partner in the country’s hydrogen ecosystem, working with academic institutions, government agencies, and industry to accelerate Sri Lanka’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The company supports the entire hydrogen value chain—from feasibility studies and technology integration to project execution and investment facilitation.

By enabling international-local partnerships, providing cutting-edge tools, and promoting sustainable infrastructure, Greenstat is helping to shape Sri Lanka’s role as a regional leader in hydrogen innovation.

Stay updated on Sri Lanka’s hydrogen journey

Greenstat Hydrogen Sri Lanka invites all stakeholders to join its mission of creating clean energy solutions and green job opportunities.

• Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube
• Explore our upcoming webinars and educational initiatives
• Connect with us to collaborate on green hydrogen in Sri Lanka

Catch the full replay of our essential webinar on hydrogen safety, led by Sonia Ruiz Pérez from Gexcon Australia, Product Manager for #EFFECTS and #RISKCURVES. In this session, discover how cutting-edge consequence and risk modeling tools are setting new benchmarks for safety in hydrogen projects.

Watch to Learn:

🔹 The role of loss containment in hydrogen safety
🔹 Key safety considerations for hydrogen operations
🔹 The importance of Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA)
🔹 A demo of EFFECTS & RISKCURVES for safe decision-making

Gain valuable insights and practical tools to implement safer hydrogen practices in your projects.

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