SKILLBILL

SKILLBILL seeks to raise awareness and the level of education among academia, industry, decision-makers and civil society on the urgent need decarbonize our societies through extensive deployment of renewable energy sources (RES).

SKILLBILL is a three-year project (01/09/2022-31/08/2025) supported by the European Union within the framework of the Horizon Europe programme. Its main objective is to enhance training and education across various sectors to address the evolving skill needs in the renewable energy sources (RES) field. The project seeks to engage citizens and stakeholders from all educational backgrounds, professional positions, and genders in RES. SKILLBILL focuses on addressing energy challenges through social, scientific, and technological approaches, aiming to contribute to the development of a low-carbon energy system.

SKILLBILL is supported by a network of partners from 7 European countries, whereby each partner has important and specific roles. Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and its subsidiary – Helsinki XR Center (HXRC) have a main contribution in WPs 4 and 5. In WP4, four universities are collaborating on an international master’s level study program. HXRC has created a remote learning space in Spatial.io for lectures, as students are attending from multiple European countries, and depending on the subject, a more immersive option to Zoom is in order. Additionally, HXRC’s main focus in WP4 has been the development of four different VR training modules, which will be used in different courses during the program.

Different VR training modules created under SKILLBILL

Two modules are single-player oriented. The first one is focused on maintenance and operations of Carbonate Fuel Cell system. Student has to put it Cell back together and then learn how to operate it. While, the second one is concentrating on built environment, and tracking of energy consumption. In the simulation, student can enter a digital twin of a physical learning space in Metropolia premises, and see the data gathered by sensors in the physical space to learn how these sensors operate.

The other two modules are multiplayer solutions. In the first one, a group of students are tasked with building a ground heating system together, connecting different devices in correct ways. In the other, students can study how different cars generate power, going from combustion engine to different hybrid models and finally to fully electric vehicles.

A multi-player solution where students can study how different cars generate power

In WP5, HXRC is developing mobile gamified learning applications which contain small augmented reality parts. The first solution targets teaching students how to conduct an energy audit in a company, and the second will teach them to install photovoltaic panels. Both solutions work in a similar, isometric viewpoint, focusing on discussion with non-player characters and making correct decisions in key points.