Evaluation report of the development of public awareness and acceptance: Deliverable D2.6

This document is the first evaluation report of the development of social awareness and acceptance of hydrogen transition in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).

The purpose of this report is two-fold; Firstly, to introduce a mixed-method approach for monitoring the development of public awareness and acceptance for the project duration, consisting of various data collected in tasks across the BalticSeaH2 project. Secondly, based on the first phase of monitoring data collection, this document provides a baseline understanding of the current state of public awareness and acceptance of hydrogen transition in the BSR, elaborates on the drivers and barriers for public awareness and acceptance, and identifies gaps and needs for further action.

While hydrogen technologies enjoy strong public acceptance on a broader level due to their potential to facilitate energy security and decarbonization, on a community-level, hydrogen-related infrastructure is facing some opposition from local populations. The degree of public awareness also varies in the BSR, indicating a need for further public awareness activities. Most literature and knowledge available are concentrated on the public awareness and acceptance of single hydrogen technologies, and consequently, while less focus has been placed on the public awareness and acceptance of the hydrogen transition, constituting the whole hydrogen value chain. Thus, this report recommends that forthcoming awareness and engagement activities focus on understanding the needs, concerns, and perceptions of both the public and host communities, and that focus is placed on perceptions and awareness regarding the hydrogen transition as a whole in the BSR.