Hydrogen Economy Challenges for Project Managers: A Case Study Approach
Kurikka, Johannes (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025062023384
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025062023384
Tiivistelmä
Finland has encountered several hydrogen booms throughout its history. In the current cycle, there is significant interest in the potential of the hydrogen economy. This relates to the possibility of using hydrogen as an energy carrier to replace oil-based energy sources, enabling a greener way to produce and store energy. This potential has also been recognized in Central Finland and the Jyväskylä region, even though there have not yet been many successful hydrogen economy projects.
In this master’s thesis, the focus is on identifying the key factors behind the lack of successful hydro-gen projects in Central Finland. The study is approached from a project management perspective. The aim is to understand whether project management-related issues are contributing to the failure of hydrogen projects.
The study was conducted through three expert interviews. All interviewees have expertise in hydro-gen projects and are familiar with the current situation of hydrogen initiatives in Central Finland. The responses from all experts were consistent. The pitfalls they identified include the need for broad-ranging expertise in hydrogen projects, the use of different project delivery models, rapidly changing regulations and requirements, funding challenges, long project timelines and permitting processes, as well as issues with knowledge sharing and employee deployment.
From this, it can be concluded that hydrogen projects require multidisciplinary expertise—not only from subject matter experts in hydrogen technology but also from project managers involved in these projects. Furthermore, the hydrogen project environment is evolving rapidly due to its emerging na-ture, which places additional demands on project managers.
In this master’s thesis, the focus is on identifying the key factors behind the lack of successful hydro-gen projects in Central Finland. The study is approached from a project management perspective. The aim is to understand whether project management-related issues are contributing to the failure of hydrogen projects.
The study was conducted through three expert interviews. All interviewees have expertise in hydro-gen projects and are familiar with the current situation of hydrogen initiatives in Central Finland. The responses from all experts were consistent. The pitfalls they identified include the need for broad-ranging expertise in hydrogen projects, the use of different project delivery models, rapidly changing regulations and requirements, funding challenges, long project timelines and permitting processes, as well as issues with knowledge sharing and employee deployment.
From this, it can be concluded that hydrogen projects require multidisciplinary expertise—not only from subject matter experts in hydrogen technology but also from project managers involved in these projects. Furthermore, the hydrogen project environment is evolving rapidly due to its emerging na-ture, which places additional demands on project managers.