Episode 34 of the WHySE Creatures Stories
This post first appeared on LinkedIn on 24 September 2026.
“Hoe slim is dat?” Rabbit asks, looking at Dog with a beaming smile.
Dog cannot help but smile back. In her excitement, Rabbit has slipped back into her native Dutch. And the word “slim” reminds Dog of earlier times.
Back then, that one word caused Dog maximum confusion. Because in the H₂ terrain, a single word can determine whether you celebrate together or talk past each other entirely.
“Yes, dear Rabbit, dat is slim,” Dog says, “and I will tell you how ‘slim’ can stir up confusion.” Rabbit looks at Dog expectantly.
Dog remembers his time as a young project engineer in the Netherlands. His boss gave him a clear task: develop a reactor for a fuel cell system that converts carbon monoxide into CO₂. Technically, it was immediately clear to Dog: Preferential Oxidation – PrOx for short.
The challenge was the space. Everything had to fit into a small box. So Dog worked out a design that guaranteed maximum gas mixing in the tightest of spaces before the mixture reached the oxidation catalyst.
Then came the “Scoring Session.” All the engineers stared at the drawing. Harry, a seasoned colleague, suddenly exclaimed: “Wat een slim idee!”
Dog did not speak any Dutch at the time. His English brain said: “Slim? Thin? Is it not enough?” But much worse was his German ear. It only heard “schlimm” – which means terrible or bad.
Dog slumped inwardly and must have looked completely disappointed. Harry saw this immediately and laughed: “Nee! Dat is een superschlaue Idee. Very smart!”
“Yes, Rabbit. Three languages, one word – and three completely different worlds.” Rabbit nods. “I understand that well.”
This is exactly what the H₂ terrain looks like today. We use terms like RFNBO, FID, or indeed PrOx. But does everyone really understand the same thing? Do we always speak the same language? When the engineer means “clever,” but the partner instinctively thinks of a “terrible” (schlimmes) risk, the project stumbles before the first pipe is even laid.
Orientation begins with Dog and his companions using the same compass – and ensuring that everyone speaks the same language. So that a “slim” idea does not turn into a “schlimm” misunderstanding.
Anyone who assumes technical terms are “obvious” in international H₂ projects underestimates the risk. One misunderstood word in negotiations, specifications, or contracts can lead to flawed planning, delays, or costly rework – especially with partners from three or four countries at the table.