Among the general public, the acceptance of green hydrogen as an energy carrier is high, a new study from NORCE discovers. However, there’s a need for more information about hydrogen and its different production methods.
How do the Norwegian public and key stakeholders feel about green liquid hydrogen being produced in Norway and being used as maritime fuel? Researchers from NORCE recently investigated this in two new separate studies, one based on interviews with decision-makers and stakeholders for implementation of a liquid hydrogen supply chain for maritime use, and one using the Norwegian citizen panel of the University of Bergen.
Confused by different types of hydrogen
Although several countries, including Norway, have strategies to increase the production of hydrogen fuel, NORCEs results indicate that hydrogen as an energy carrier, and its different production methods, are still unknown and unclear to a large part of the general public. A common misunderstanding seems to be confusing ‘hydrogen fuel’ in general with environmentally friendly ‘green hydrogen’.
Results from the survey done on the Norwegian citizen panel show that the production method is highly relevant for public acceptance.
– The acceptance is high for green hydrogen, which is produced from renewable energy sources, but falls significantly for blue and grey hydrogen when respondents are informed that these are produced from coal, oil, or natural gas, scientist at NORCE, Jon Kåre Skiple explains.
Widespread misunderstandings
Public support for hydrogen fuel in general, as well as the different production methods, is related to their level of worry about climate change, gender, and political affiliation. Widespread misunderstandings regarding ‘green’ hydrogen production have the potential for reducing trust and fueling resistance as new ‘blue’ or ‘grey’ projects develop.
-The results indicate a need for clearer communication from the government and developers regarding production methods to avoid possible ‘backfire’ effects in public acceptance, Norce scientist Kari Kjestveit says.
A holistic approach is important
The findings from the study based on interviews with decision-makers and stakeholders for the Aurora development point to the importance of a holistic approach to future energy solutions. More specifically, they reveal that there are drives, incentives, and synergy effects that provide opportunities to achieve a green shift, even though the shift is challenging.
They also reveal that transport preferences are governed by several needs and considerations, such as limitations associated with current hydrogen infrastructure and technology maturity.
– We also found that perceptions of risks associated with hydrogen and trust in hydrogen stakeholders are closely linked to hydrogen knowledge levels and that key hydrogen stakeholders including international ones, need to elevate the current hydrogen investment for the implementation of hydrogen as an energy carrier and fuel in society, Chief Scientist at Norce, Fionn Iversen says.
NORCE presented their findings at a seminar hosted by Eviny, NORCE, and Maritime CleanTech in Bergen on April 27th. The goal of the studies has been to gain insight into public perception, in order to build social acceptance for implementing production and use of green liquid hydrogen as a maritime fuel in Norway.
Read more about the study here: Hydrogen study, background article