The transition to a hydrogen economy will involve policy- and decision-makers, technology providers, adopters, users, and, last but not least, citizens. Understanding how the latter perceives hydrogen, and the needs of technology providers and decision-makers, is fundamental to ensure a successful implementation of solutions in terms of policy, technical development and social awareness.
Project HYPOP, HYdrogen Public Opinion and accePtance, will support the hydrogen deployment in Europe, enhancing the involvement of citizens and providing guidelines to increase trust in hydrogen implementation. A clean and clear communication will be key for hydrogen technological development with social acceptance.
HYPOP’s overall objective is to raise public awareness and trust towards hydrogen technologies and their systemic benefits, through the following activities:
- the preparation of guidelines and good practices that will help to define more effectively how citizens, consumers/end users, and stakeholders can be involved in the implementation of Hydrogen technologies;
- the creation of a social platform collecting communication materials (videos, news, scientific papers) on new hydrogen technologies, developed according to the early findings of the public engagement activities;
- the definition of indicators to be used for Hydrogen Social Life Cycle Assessment for public acceptance and informed decision-making.
HYPOP will focus on two applications: residential and mobility, which will enter into the daily life of people.
Citizens, consumers, end users, and communication experts are the first HYPOP target group. First responders, permitting entities, certification bodies and decision makers are identified as second target group. HYPOP will analyse the state-of-the-art of the hydrogen implementation and public understanding all over Europe, exploring above all Belgium, Bulgaria, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Spain.
Hydrogen projects with demonstration activities in public space will be a valuable ally to increase public awareness. Experiencing technologies close to the daily life of people, such as hydrogen cars, will enhance the pathway towards the citizen’s hydrogen trust and acceptance.
SPECIFIC NEEDS
The project is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and its members.
Funded by the European Union.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union and of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Neither the European Union nor the Clean Hydrogen Partnership can be held responsible for them.
