Clarifying Progress and Potential of the Transition to a Hydrogen Economy: A Study of Historical Developments, Societal Perceptions, and Expert Perspectives

概要

The potential of the hydrogen economy has emerged as a potential response to
global climate change concerns, envisioning a sustainable, decarbonized future
energy landscape. While the concept presents a potential pathway towards
environmental conservation, its development has been marked by a complex
interplay of technical, economic, and sociopolitical challenges. This thesis delves
into the social dimension of the hydrogen economy, investigating historical
development and societal perceptions among stakeholders.
In examining the historical development of the hydrogen economy from when
the term was first coined in 1972 until 2020, the research employs bibliometric
and content analyses to map its trajectory. Findings indicate that interest in the
hydrogen economy has continued over the past five decades, with a growing
number of academic publications, media coverage, and projects. However, this
finding alone may not fully capture the relative increase in interest, given that
publications in all areas have increased. Various endogenous and exogenous
factors have influenced the progress of the hydrogen economy and created hype
at different points in time. A hype cycle is an observed pattern characterized by
strong and rapid increases, followed by subsequent decreases, in both societal
attention to and expectations about a technology. Additionally, the various
potential configurations of hydrogen as an energy solution allows people to
interpret it based on their own perspectives and agendas, resulting in competing
interpretations of what a future hydrogen economy may look like.
Focusing on the Japanese context, a comparative study was conducted to
investigate the shifts in societal attitudes towards hydrogen technologies
through a community survey and compare the results from a previous survey. The
results show a gap in public understanding of hydrogen, with actual knowledge
lower than self-reported knowledge. The respondents were divided on their
preference for green vs grey hydrogen production, with cost and environment
being key factors. Public perception is mostly neutral with more positive than
negative responses. However, there is a difference between public understanding
of hydrogen production and utilization and the reality. Acceptance for hydrogen
applications varies, with transportation receiving the most support. ...

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