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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.
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.
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.
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.
Beyond academic collaboration, Greenstat’s initiatives focus on creating a skilled workforce and raising public awareness on green hydrogen.
The COE-H conducts free webinars covering various segments of the hydrogen value chain, offering knowledge-sharing opportunities for students, professionals, and policymakers.
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.
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.
“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 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.
Greenstat Hydrogen Sri Lanka invites all stakeholders to join its mission of creating clean energy solutions and green job opportunities.
Greenstat Hydrogen and the University of Peradeniya have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Centre of Excellence for Hydrogen, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s commitment to advancing research, innovation, and capacity building in sustainable energy. The signing ceremony took place at the University of Peradeniya, with high-level representatives from both parties in attendance.
Greenstat Hydrogen Chairman and Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Bergen-Vestland, Norway, Sturle Harald Pedersen expressed his enthusiasm for this collaboration, stating: “It was a great honour and pleasure to sign this MoU alongside Vice Chancellor Prof. Terrence Madhujith. This collaboration marks a significant step toward driving impactful developments in the hydrogen sector. We look forward to working together to accelerate sustainable energy solutions.”
The Centre of Excellence for Hydrogen will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research, industry-academia collaboration, and talent development in hydrogen technologies. Through this partnership, Greenstat Hydrogen and the University of Peradeniya will focus on capacity building, student training programmes, and the promotion of hydrogen as a viable clean energy source for Sri Lanka.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Terrence Madhujith highlighted the broader impact of this initiative, stating: “This is a great opportunity for the University of Peradeniya and for the entire country. We are excited about this collaboration and look forward to working together. Our long-term vision includes creating job opportunities for graduates who seek employment abroad, while also transitioning our university to operate on sustainable energy sources such as green hydrogen, biomass, solar, and wind power.”
The partnership will also see the formation of a Hydrogen Association, bringing together key industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers to foster innovation and policy advocacy in the hydrogen sector. Additionally, Greenstat Hydrogen will collaborate with the University of Peradeniya to develop training programmes and internships for students, ensuring a skilled workforce for Sri Lanka’s emerging hydrogen economy.
This collaboration is expected to play a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s energy transition, aligning with national and global sustainability goals while positioning the country as a leader in green hydrogen research and innovation.
Join us for an exclusive ADB-ISA Certified Training on Green Hydrogen, a collaborative effort with the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and Greenstat, Norway.
This pioneering program aims to equip stakeholders with essential knowledge and skills for safe GH2 production, storage, transportation, and application. Dive deep into GH2 properties, production technologies, safety regulations, and best practices. Be part of the green energy movement shaping tomorrow’s sustainable world.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to drive the green hydrogen revolution!
Background
Green Hydrogen (GH2) has been recognized as a pathway to deep decarbonization, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors. Several governments have announced GH2 policies, strategies, and targets. In addition, many global multilateral and private sector organizations have recognized GH2 in their near-to-midterm strategies. Although this emerging technology is gaining traction across industries, it faces certain challenges including, but not limited to, shortage of specialized manpower, high operational costs, lack of knowledge, underdeveloped infrastructure, absence of dedicated policy for GH2 and limited access to affordable financing. Interventions such as increased investment, government support, engineering development and skilled workforce development, are some of the critical levers for accelerating a smooth transition to GH2 economy.
ISA under the G20 India Presidency has created a virtual Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre (GHIC; www.isa-ghic.org) that will support the production, utilization, and trade of green hydrogen, besides providing a platform for knowledge sharing and building competency across the GH2 value chain. The GHIC will also provide opportunities to incubate Start-Ups, provide certified trainings, and host Expert Working Groups to support the scale-up of the green hydrogen ecosystem in member countries. This AI-integrated platform will serve as a dynamic One-Stop Gateway to provide access to the GH2 knowledge repository, country insights, developments in hydrogen space, global initiatives and missions, skill development, and community engagement.
The GHIC platform was launched at the Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting (ETMM), under the G20 India Presidency in July 2023, and subsequently, was included in the G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration in September 2023.
ISA is being supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), under ADB’s Knowledge and Support Technical Assistance, in developing this Knowledge Platform.
Goal and Objective of the training programme:
The goal of this capacity building program is to help the stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills for the safe production, storage, transportation, and end application of GH2. The objective is to ensure compliance with current regulations, policies, safety standards, and certification procedures while promoting best practices in handling GH2 and compressed and liquid gases.
The program will cover the relevant aspects of GH2 production, storage, and transportation, including:
The program will consist of training sessions covering the following topics:
It is to be noted that the proposed workshop is first in the series of ISA-ADB Training workshops. The subsequent workshops planned later this year will cover advance training including topics mentioned below:
By implementing this comprehensive capacity building program, participants will gain the necessary expertise to handle GH2 safely and efficiently across various sectors. This program aims to promote a culture of safety, regulatory compliance, and best practices in the production, storage, transportation, and utilization of GH2 and related gases.
