This toolkit aims to guide decision-makers, educators and communicators, technical stakeholders through the public engagement activities on hydrogen. Exploring guidelines produced by the project and best practices from different European countries, HYPOP intends provide you a user-friendly kit of tools having insights for the public engagement process of hydrogen implementation, knowledge on how to overcome challenges and barriers to obtain permitting and to support first responders in the technologies installations, as well as for the hydrogen products certification with smooth procedures. Useful communication materials, such as videos and infographics, are also free provided to drive you through a more effective public hydrogen knowledge transferring and its engagement.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Hydrogen technologies installation is currently a complex procedure involving multiple stakeholders, referring to specific technical requirements for the hydrogen applications, from industrial to transportation fields. Those procedures often differ country by country and require knowledge from the involved players for the safety (first responders), permitting and certification products release (permitting authorities, certification bodies). Challenges and barriers are still widespread present in Europe, where common and smooth procedures are demanded in accordance with an enhanced positive hydrogen perception by the decision-makers and communities. HYPOP has produced three main guidelines, providing recommendations and best practices collected around Europe on safety, permitting, certification topics.
Insights
Approaches from EU countries might support national and local regulations improvements taking advantages of previous similar experiences, as well as international standards are able to cover national regulatory gaps
Application of risk assessment methodologies, prescriptive approach with flexibility and easy switch to performance-based approach
Improve awareness and knowledge of safety operators (e.g., projects’ evidences of increase awareness after trainings)
Organize workshops between experts and fire brigades to exchange views and meet mutual expectations in terms of safety
Co-develop emergency protocols for first responders.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Public engagement is a critical factor in the successful rollout of hydrogen technologies. Evidence shows that strong engagement leads to faster decisions, better project designs, and higher acceptance, while weak or late engagement often results in delays, redesigns, and mistrust.
Drivers of public support include clear links to climate goals, visible local benefits such as jobs and cleaner air, integration with renewables, and transparent governance. Barriers include high costs, gaps in infrastructure, safety concerns, water use, and low trust in institutions.
To overcome these challenges, effective engagement should be transparent, inclusive, and tailored to local contexts. Early dialogue, open conversations about safety, visible co-benefits, and ongoing feedback loops all help to build confidence and legitimacy. In short, engaging communities is as essential as technical innovation for ensuring that hydrogen becomes a trusted part of the energy transition.
Insights
Trust travels faster than technology, leading to communities supporting hydrogen projects when engagement starts early, with open and honest communication
Safety fears fade when risks are named clearly: addressing concerns directly builds confidence more than avoiding or downplaying them
People embrace hydrogen when they see tangible benefits like jobs, cleaner air, or energy security in their own area. If global acceptance is the goal, local work is needed
Dialogue beats monologue, embrace two-way conversations and co-creation to foster ownership and reduce resistance
Remember that no one-size-fits-all: engagement works best when messages and methods are tailored to the specific culture, context, and community
VIDEOS AND INFOGRAPHICS
Informative videos and infographics to explore what is hydrogen, its applications and technical approaches for their installations.
Videos are available in pills and six different languages (English, Italian, French, Spanish, Bulgarian, Polish).
Videos
“HYPOP Explains: What is hydrogen?”
Discover the chemical characteristics of hydrogen, hydrogen colours, production methods and applications.
“HYPOP Explains: How to approach safety in H2 technologies”
Understanding of associated risks and safety procedures to ensure safe hydrogen technologies installations, EU example cases.
“HYPOP Explains: Permitting procedures and H2 installations”
Understanding different EU approaches for hydrogen technologies adoption, EU example cases.
“HYPOP Community: experiences and projects around Europe”Interviews to International projects, experts from the EUHYDROGENWEEK 2024
Infographics
Green hydrogen production and mobility application
Basic understanding of hydrogen production operation in the electrolysers, how hydrogen buses and fuel cells work
The role of hydrogen in the Energy Transition
Why green hydrogen plays a crucial role in the decarbonisation process, what are the different hydrogen colours and its application fields.
