Cherry Orchard Youth Service Takes on Ireland’s First Hydrogen Grand Prix!

Cherry Orchard Youth Service is thrilled to be taking part in Ireland’s first-ever Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP), an exciting international challenge where young people design, build and race small cars powered by clean hydrogen energy. It’s a hands-on project that shows how fun and accessible future-friendly technology can be.

Our team of young people, aged 15 to 17, chose to focus on sustainable energy. Throughout the project they are learning how hydrogen fuel cells work, how to solve engineering problems, how to communicate as a team and how clean energy can help protect the environment.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the H2GP is that the young people build the entire car themselves. They prepare everything from the tubing and hydrogen tank to the battery pack and the electrolyzer. Once everything is set up, they can even produce their own hydrogen to power the car they’ve created.

When the car is ready, the racing begins. While the young people naturally want to compete, the H2GP SPRINT programme turns each race into a learning experience. The cars produce real-time data that helps the team understand how gear ratios, weight balance, lubrication and motor placement affect performance. Every race becomes a chance to test ideas and make improvements.

As the project develops, the young people can also redesign parts of the car, such as the chassis or body, using simple computer design tools. This allows them to bring their own creativity and individuality to the project.

The Hydrogen Grand Prix is more than a race — it’s an opportunity for young people to explore clean energy, build real skills and work together on something exciting and meaningful. Cherry Orchard Youth Service is incredibly proud of the team and looks forward to following their journey as they help shape a cleaner and more innovative future for Ireland.