Turin, June 2025 — Over the past several months, the HYPOP project has led a dynamic and inclusive series of stakeholders and public engagement activities across Europe, bringing hydrogen technologies into the spotlight through citizen participation and expert dialogue. Between November 2024 and May 2025, HYPOP organized six national co-creation workshops, five stakeholder workshops, and two international webinars—each designed to foster understanding, gather perspectives, and build a shared vision for hydrogen’s role in Europe’s energy transition.
Engaging Citizens in the Hydrogen Conversation
The citizen engagement component of HYPOP focused on ensuring diverse public input into the evolving hydrogen landscape. National workshops were hosted in Italy, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Poland, each delivered in the local language to maximize accessibility and inclusivity. Events were held in online or hybrid formats, allowing individuals from different regions to participate.
Each session followed a structured yet participatory approach. Activities began with clear, accessible overviews of hydrogen technologies, covering how they work, their potential benefits, and associated challenges. Participants then took part in co-creation exercises, including live polls, brainstorming activities, interactive Padlet boards, and the creation of fictional news stories imagining future hydrogen scenarios. These tools encouraged reflection on hopes, concerns, and expectations surrounding hydrogen’s societal role. To ground the discussions in national contexts, attendees received tailored fact sheets outlining current hydrogen strategies, local projects, and relevant policies. This localized approach helped participants engage deeply with the subject matter and offer grounded feedback.
A total of 177 citizens participated in the national workshops, averaging 30 participants per session. Attendees represented a broad spectrum of society—from students and researchers to policy professionals and everyday citizens—bringing diverse viewpoints to the table. This inclusivity led to meaningful dialogue and a rich exploration of the opportunities and challenges hydrogen presents.
Sharing Knowledge Across Borders
To broaden the impact of the project and share findings beyond national borders, HYPOP hosted two international webinars, drawing 52 participants from across Europe. These sessions highlighted key takeaways from the national workshops, explored cross-country differences, and presented best practices for public engagement in hydrogen discussions. The webinars also served as a platform to reflect on how inclusive dialogue can shape innovation and policy in the hydrogen sector.
Recordings of the webinars are available here:
- Engaging Non-Technical Audiences: Best Practices for Energy Communication: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq5dJ-a3ByA&list=PLFrhG2G0RDG9n3S6xDR1DrQFOtNURaswT&index=2
- Raising Awareness of Hydrogen: Best Practices from the HYPOP Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eJ7JpVDawk&list=PLFrhG2G0RDG9n3S6xDR1DrQFOtNURaswT
Stakeholder Engagement: Addressing Permitting, Safety, and Certification
In parallel with public workshops, HYPOP facilitated five stakeholder engagement sessions focused on permitting, safety, and certification of hydrogen technologies. These workshops were held in Spain, Belgium, Italy, Poland, and Bulgaria, each conducted in the national language to ensure effective communication and local relevance.
More than 150 stakeholders participated—averaging over 25 attendees per workshop. Some events were held within larger public conferences such as the Congreso Nacional de Hidrógeno Verde in Huelva (Spain) and H2EXPO in Piacenza (Italy), enhancing visibility and outreach.
These workshops followed a consistent agenda, beginning with an overview of HYPOP results and exploring differences across Europe in hydrogen technology licensing and regulatory environments. Country-specific sessions then focused on technical requirements, policy gaps, and best practices. Tools such as Google surveys and live polls were used to encourage interaction and gather targeted input from attendees. Additionally, preliminary results from the Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) were shared to inform discussions.
Looking Ahead
In total, 229 European citizens and over 150 stakeholders took part in HYPOP’s participatory events—demonstrating a strong appetite for inclusive, informed discussion on hydrogen’s future. These engagements have not only deepened public understanding but have also provided valuable insights to shape more responsive and effective hydrogen policies.
Stay tuned for the release of the HYPOP Guidelines, where the key findings and recommendations from these workshops will be compiled to support policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society in building a sustainable and inclusive hydrogen future for Europe.
