Analysis of public engagement with H2 via social media across the EU27 (D1.4)

Ref. Ares(2024)3875100 - 30/05/2024 D1.4 Analysis of public engagement with H₂via social media channels across the EU27 DELIVERABLE TYPE Report MONTH AND DATE OF DELIVERABLE Month 12, 31 May 2024 WORK PACKAGE WP 1 LEADER IMI DISSEMINATION LEVEL Public AUTHORS Daniela Martin PROGRAMME HORIZON EUROPE GRANT AGREEMENT 101111933 START June 2023 DURATION 24 months Contributors NAME ORGANISATION ENVI Eric Jensen, Aaron Jensen, Lali van Zuydam IMI IME APRE CNH2 RIGP CLUSTER TWEED BH2C Peer Reviews NAME ORGANISATION Ilaria Schiavi, Marianna Franchino ENVI Diego Iribarren IMDEA Revision History The information and views set out in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union, neither the European Union Institutions and Bodies nor any person acting on their behalf. VERSION DATA REVIEWER MODIFICATIONS 1 15 May 2024 ENVI Minor revisions 2 20 May 2024 IMDEA Energy Minor revisions Index of Contents 1 Introduction 8 2 Methodology 9 3 Analysis of public engagement with H₂via social media channels across the EU27 and EU13 12 3.1 Quantitative analysis 12 3.1.1 Technology: EU27 12 3.1.2 Hydrogen fuel and energy topics: EU13 14 3.1.3 Hydrogen-based mobility topics: EU27 15 3.1.4 Hydrogen-based mobility topics: EU13 20 3.1.5 Hydrogen infrastructure topics: EU27 23 3.1.6 Hydrogen infrastructure topics: EU13 24 3.1.7 Hydrogen economy and production topics: EU27 25 3.1.8 Hydrogen economy and production topics: EU13 27 3.2 Qualitative analysis of hydrogen technology topics in social media 29 3.2.1 Qualitative analysis methodology 29 3.2.2 X case study: H₂as a decarbonisation strategy 29 3.2.3 X case study: Public reactions to the EU Green Deal announcement 31 3.2.4 X case study: Public perceptions of clean H₂in EU policy 33 3.2.5 X case study: The viability of hydrogen fuel cells 35 3.2.6 Reddit case study: H₂'s role in the climate crisis 36 3.2.7 Reddit case study: H₂as a transition fuel 38 3.2.8 Reddit case study: H₂'s future in road transport 39 3.2.9 Reddit case study: Viability of hydrogen energy 40 3.2.10 Reddit case study: Efficiency and environmental impact of H₂42 3.2.10 Discussion 43 4 Conclusions and implications for public engagement 45 Index of Tables Table 1. List of identified keywords 10 Table 2. List of identified topics 11 Table 3. Final list of topics 12 Index of Figures Figure 1. Excerpt of weekly searches on social media 10 Figure 2. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen fuel across EU27 countries 14 Figure 3. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen fuel across EU13 countries 15 Figure 4. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic green hydrogen across EU13 countries 16 Figure 5. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen internal combustion engine across EU27 countries 17 Figure 6. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen vehicle across EU27 countries 18 Figure 7. Annual average relative search frequency for topic fuel cell vehicle across EU27 countries 19 Figure 8. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen-powered aircraft across EU13 countries 20 Figure 9. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen vehicle across EU13 countries 21 Figure 10. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle across EU13 countries 22 Figure 11. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic fuel cell vehicle across EU13 countries 23 Figure 12. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen-powered aircraft across EU13 countries 24 Figure 13. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen station across EU27 countries 25 Figure 14. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen economy across EU27 countries 26 Figure 15. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen production across EU27 countries 27 Figure 16. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen economy across EU13 countries 28 Figure 17. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen production across EU13 countries 29 Figure 18. European Commission's tweet about the European Hydrogen Bank 31 Figure 19. European Commission's tweet about the European Green Deal 33 Figure 20. European Commission's tweet about clean hydrogen 35 Figure 21. Tweet about hydrogen fuel cell technology 37 Figure 22. Reddit thread about hydrogen as a clean fuel 37 Figure 23. Reddit thread about hydrogen fuel's role in the transition to cleaner energy 39 Figure 24. Reddit thread about hydrogen's viability as a fuel source for the trucking industry 41 Figure 25. Reddit thread about hydrogen as an energy source 42 Figure 26. Reddit thread about the complexities of hydrogen fuel 43 Partners short names ENVI Parco Scientifico Tecnologico Per L’ambiente Environment Park Torino Spa IMI Institute for Methods Innovation IME Fundacion IMDEA Energia APRE Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea CNH2 Centro Nacional Del Hidrógeno RIGP Regionalna Izba Gospodarcza Pomorza CLUSTER TWEED Cluster Tweed BH2C Balkanski Vodoroden Klaster Acronyms SEO Search Engine Optimisation EU European Union H₂ Hydrogen API Application Programming Interfaces SM Social Media FCEV Fuel cell electric vehicle Executive Summary This social media analysis report provides broad coverage of the full set of EU member states (EU27), as well as analyses focusing specifically on the EU13: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. In addition to providing valuable information about public engagement and interest in topics related to hydrogen (H2) energy and technology on social media, this analysis provides recommendations that will feed into planning the HYPOP project’s co-creation and public engagement workshops with participants in EU13 countries (WP3). Findings in this report reveal a mosaic of engagement levels across the EU27, with certain countries displaying a more pronounced interest in specific hydrogen energy-related topics. A mix of national initiatives or local discourse likely influenced the differences found between countries. Indeed, public interest was inclined toward the technological aspects of hydrogen, such as hydrogen fuel cells and vehicles, suggesting a curiosity and potential readiness among the public towards embracing hydrogen-based solutions. However, there was a noticeable gap in public engagement with topics related to hydrogen energy infrastructure and policies, indicating a potential area for targeted awareness and educational initiatives. Finally, socio-political factors likely substantially influenced the public's perception and engagement with hydrogen technology, with varying degrees of scepticism and enthusiasm observed across countries. The report underscores the diverse nature of public interest in hydrogen technology across EU countries, highlighting the need for country-specific engagement strategies. Findings from this deliverable support the need to tailor these strategies to each member state's unique interests, concerns and cultural contexts. In summary, this report offers a snapshot of current social media engagement with hydrogen technology in the EU27 and a roadmap for shaping future public-facing interactions and dialogues around hydrogen energy. 1 Introduction Hydrogen (H₂) technology is emerging as a pivotal element in the transition towards cleaner energy sources. Understanding public engagement and sentiment towards H₂is crucial, as public perception can substantially influence policy-making, investment decisions, and the overall success of hydrogen initiatives. This report aims to untangle the differences in public engagement and interest in hydrogen-related topics across the European Union's 27 member states (EU27), leveraging social media and Google search trends as data sources. The relevance of this analysis stems from the integral role public opinion can play in the energy sector's evolution. As the EU strides towards ambitious decarbonisation goals, gauging public interest and concerns about H₂is indispensable for aligning strategies with societal expectations and fostering public support. Furthermore, the analysis offers valuable insights for key players in hydrogen technology, including the energy industry, public policy, and academia. Moreover, social media searches serve as indicators of public interest and engagement with a topic, providing real-time data that reflects the pulse of society1. By analysing these data, we aim to uncover patterns, trends, and shifts in public discourse, offering an understanding of how H₂is perceived across diverse cultural and linguistic contexts within the EU27 based on organically developing discussions. This study maps social media-based public engagement with hydrogen technology and identifies drivers of interest or concern, thereby contributing to a more informed and responsive approach to advancing the hydrogen economy within the EU. 1cf., Jensen 2014. § Jensen, E. (2017). Putting the methodological brakes on claims to measure national happiness through Twitter: Methodological limitations in social media analytics. PLOS ONE. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0180080 [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180080] 2 Methodology Our approach includes both quantitative and qualitative social media data sources from across the EU27. From October 2023 to January 2024, weekly searches were conducted on social media platforms (such as Facebook, X, Reddit and YouTube) to compile a relevant dataset. During these searches, the focus was on identifying keywords, hashtags, users and relevant discussions on social media for further analysis. Figure 1. Excerpt of weekly searches on social media Date Keywords on social media Hashtags Friday 13 October 2023 hydrogen fuel-based economy, hydrogen trucks, green hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, clean energy, renewable energy, H₂economy, hydrogen fuel cell #NationalHydrogenDay, #cleanhydrogen, Friday 20 October 2023 hydrogen fuel cell technology, green hydrogen, green hydrogen hub #ClimateJustice Friday 27 October 2023 electric cars, green hydrogen Friday 3 November 2023 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, renewable energy, green hydrogen technology #HydrogenFuture, #CleanEnergy Friday 10 November 2023 hydrogen vehicles Friday 17 November 2023 green hydrogen, EU hydrogen bank, hydrogen fuel cell systems, renewable hydrogen Friday 24 November 2023 European Hydrogen Week 2023, greenwashing, green hydrogen, hydrogen station Friday 1 December 2023 renewable energy, green hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen fuel #COP28 Friday 8 December 2023 hydrogen, regulatory framework for hydrogen, hydrogen market rules, gas decarbonisation, energy security, green hydrogen, clean hydrogen, hydrogen infrastructure, hydrogen cars, hydrogen engine, #hydrogen, #biomethane, #HydrogenWeek, #H2Europe, #EUH2Week, #H2, #COP28, #COP28UAE In the process of compiling this social media dataset, limitations inherent to social media platforms’ proprietary Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) were encountered. These platforms often impose restrictions on data access and are subject to frequent changes in policies and access permissions, which disrupted the data extraction for this study. To address these challenges and broaden the analytical scope, Google Trends was integrated into the methodology in addition to traditional social media platforms. Google Trends compensated for the restricted access and platform-centric data of social media APIs by providing a more comprehensive view of public interest across multiple digital fronts. Unlike social media APIs, Google Trends offers enabling Europe to be supplied with affordable green hydrogen by 2030. This initiative was launched by France, Spain and Portugal, with strong support from Germany. Figure 5. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen internal combustion engine across EU27 countries8 A similar topic, hydrogen vehicle, was most searched in Denmark (100), followed by the Netherlands (41) and Ireland (34) (Figure 6). Denmark's high search frequency could be related to Everfuel, the Danish hydrogen infrastructure provider, announcing that its network of hydrogen refuelling stations would close. 8Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. Figure 6. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen vehicle across EU27 countries9 In general, topics related to hydrogen vehicle could suggest that European citizens are still getting acquainted with H₂as a technology, showing a tendency towards the search for more narrow terms such as combustion engine to understand what they are and how they work, and not terms that could be applied to their everyday lives such as fuel cell vehicle, a topic that was most searched in Sweden (19), Germany (12) and Austria (10) (Figure 7). The relative search frequency in Germany can be attributed to the International Expo and Conference for the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell community held in Stuttgart in September 2023. 9Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. Figure 7. Annual average relative search frequency for topic fuel cell vehicle across EU27 countries10 The topic of hydrogen-powered aircraft showed a substantial level of search frequency in several EU27 countries, with France being the country with the highest level (100) (Figure 8). This may be related to Beyond Aero, a French start-up, recently announcing its first successful flight of a hydrogen aircraft named Blériot. As for the rest of the countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and Ireland, this frequency can be related to other similar news, such as H2FLY, the developer of hydrogen fuel and sustainable technologies for aviation, announcing the completion of the world’s first piloted flight of a liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft in September 2023. 10 Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. Figure 8. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen-powered aircraft across EU13 countries11 11 Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. 3.1.4 Hydrogen-based mobility topics: EU13 In contrast, all EU13 countries showed some interest in the term hydrogen vehicle (Figure 9). Romania, Slovenia and Poland were the countries with the highest search frequency. For example, most countries had a peak between September and November 2023, probably related to the European Hydrogen Week, where Honda, Toyota and other car manufacturers showcased prototypes of their next-generation hydrogen-powered vehicles. Countries such as Poland showed a steady frequency by the end of 2023, probably related to the notable progress made by hydrogen vehicles in that same year. Figure 9. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen vehicle across EU13 countries12 In contrast, the topic of hydrogen internal combustion engine only showed movement in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Poland (Figure 10). The top related topics that were searched alongside hydrogen internal combustion energy were electrical motors, Toyota and hydrogen vehicles. In summary, 2023 saw continued interest in this technology in several countries despite no major related news. 12 Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. Figure 10. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle across EU13 countries13 The topic of fuel cell vehicle was only searched in Romania, the Czech Republic and Poland (Figure 11). As mentioned earlier, this topic refers to a specific type of hydrogen technology. The top related topics were hydrogen, fuel cell and vehicle. In the case of the Czech Republic, the peaks of interest could be related to the refining and petrochemical group ORLEN Unipetrol implementing a pilot operation of a low-floor electric bus with hydrogen fuel cells across the country, as well as Bosch’s plant at České Budějovice (one of the German company’s largest research and development centres in Europe) announcing that it would undergo a major transformation to focus on green hydrogen and fuel cell technology in October 2023. 13 Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. Figure 11. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic fuel cell vehicle across EU13 countries14 It is worth noting that these two topics (hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle and fuel cell vehicle) are more specialised since they refer to specific types of technology used by hydrogen vehicles: the former produces power through combustion, and the latter converts hydrogen into electricity. This could explain why these topics show different high search frequencies compared to the more generic topic of hydrogen vehicle. Finally, the topic of hydrogen-powered aircraft was only searched in Hungary and Poland (Figure 12). While no major specific news was related to this topic in these two countries, two important pieces of European news coincided with the peak interest levels in March and July. The first one is related to the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (Clean Aviation JU) and the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (Clean Hydrogen JU) signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish strategic cooperation on research and innovation in hydrogen-powered aviation during the Clean Aviation Annual Forum in March 2023. The second one relates to the publication of the key recommendations from the Clean Aviation and Clean Hydrogen joint workshop on H₂-powered aviation in July 2023. 14 Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. Figure 12. Trend analysis of search frequency for the topic hydrogen-powered aircraft across EU13 countries15 15 Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. 3.1.5 Hydrogen infrastructure topics: EU27 Hydrogen station was the most searched topic related to infrastructure in the EU27 countries, especially in Germany (45) and Austria (35) (Figure 13). By the end of 2023, Germany’s overall number of hydrogen stations increased to 105. However, this growth was not as substantial as initial plans: H₂Mobility, the company in charge of expanding hydrogen refuelling stations, originally announced that they planned to end 2023 with at least 400 stations. In addition, during 2023, several hydrogen stations were closed due to profitability issues. Figure 13. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen station across EU27 countries16 3.1.6 Hydrogen infrastructure topics: EU13 At the EU13 level, the topic of hydrogen station did not show substantial activity in any of the countries. This is interesting because there was important news in at least three of these countries: the Czech Republic, Estonia and Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, the ORLEN Unipetrol Group announced its plans to expand its hydrogen refuelling station network. In Estonia, a sustainable 16 Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. energy company called Alexela announced that it would open the first hydrogen stations in the country. Finally, an international energy technology company called Metacon announced that it was set to supply an integrated 1MW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling station to an unnamed client in Slovakia. 3.1.7 Hydrogen economy and production topics: EU27 The topic of hydrogen economy was most searched in Finland (12), showing little to no interest in the rest of the EU27 countries (Figure 14). Although Finland’s search frequency is not very high, it can be related to the adoption of a resolution on hydrogen by the national government at the beginning of 2023. According to this resolution, Finland aims to become the leading European nation in the hydrogen economy value chain. Figure 14. Annual average relative search frequency for the topic hydrogen economy across EU27 countries17 17 Each score represents the relative volume of a query compared to the total number of searches performed over a given time and location, with the peak search volume indexed at 100. Figure 19. European Commission's tweet about the European Green Deal 3.2.4 X case study: Public perceptions of clean H₂in EU policy A few days later, the European Commission tweeted advocating for clean hydrogen as a solution for reconciling economic growth with environmental sustainability (Figure 20). The replies were mixed but predominantly critical, with concerns about the credibility, feasibility, and motivations behind the promotion of hydrogen as a clean energy solution. The discussion reflects a broader debate on energy policy, environmental sustainability, and trust in EU leadership and initiatives. ●A substantial number of responses strongly opposed the idea of clean hydrogen, with comments like "ABSOLUTELY NOT !!!! Clear HYDROGENE is A HUGE LIE !!!" expressing outright rejection and scepticism toward the initiative. ●Users were inquiring about the source of electricity for hydrogen production, highlighting concerns about the overall sustainability of the hydrogen production process. For example, one user asked, "And what source of electricity will be used to create this hydrogen?" ●Several replies criticised the EU's policies and leadership, with comments like "Ursula von der Leyen should transition to a non-paid job," pointing to a lack of trust or approval of the individuals driving these initiatives. ●Some users accused the Commission of spreading misleading information or engaging in scams, as seen in comments like "It is cheating to talk about 'green deal' with windmills and solar." ●Amid the criticism, there were expressions of support, such as "Congratulations for your good work". ●The discussion included political and ideological comments that extended beyond hydrogen, indicating that the topic is entangled with broader political sentiments and agendas. ●Some responses used sarcasm or disparaging remarks to express their viewpoint, like "Madam Faschismus" or "You are the dirtiest of all, time to clean your house." In summary, the replies to the European Commission's tweet on clean hydrogen were mixed but predominantly critical, with concerns about the credibility, feasibility, and motivations behind the promotion of H₂as a clean energy solution. The discussion reflects a broader debate on energy policy, environmental sustainability, and trust in EU leadership and initiatives. Figure 20. European Commission's tweet about clean hydrogen 3.2.5 X case study: The viability of hydrogen fuel cells A tweet about hydrogen fuel cell technology’s potential was published on 14 October 2023 (Figure 21). The discussion reflects a broad spectrum of opinions on hydrogen fuel cells versus battery technology in green transportation, encompassing concerns about efficiency, infrastructure, environmental impact, and the potential for various applications in different sectors. The following is an analysis of the sentiment and content of the replies: ●Many responses highlighted the substantial energy required to produce hydrogen, emphasising the need for green energy sources. There was interest in tidal energy for its predictability and the potential to produce hydrogen during peak renewable energy generation times. ●There was a clear debate between the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells versus battery technology. Some users argued that hydrogen production is energy-intensive and less efficient than using electricity directly in batteries. ●Concerns were raised about hydrogen's leaky nature due to its small molecular size, necessitating local production to minimise transportation losses. The difficulty of producing green hydrogen efficiently was also noted. ●Several respondents challenged the notion that battery technology relies heavily on rare metals, pointing out advancements in battery composition that reduce or eliminate the need for such materials. ●Users discussed the lack of investment in hydrogen infrastructure compared to electric vehicles (EVs). There was a sentiment that more focus on hydrogen could have led to different outcomes in green transportation. ●Some comments suggested that hydrogen has potential in sectors like shipping, heavy industry, and long-haul transportation, where battery tech may be less viable. ●The environmental impact of hydrogen production was a concern, with users distinguishing between 'green' hydrogen produced from renewable sources and 'dirty' hydrogen from fossil fuels. ●There were references to international efforts in hydrogen development, with mentions of countries like France and Germany using hydrogen trains and Australia's involvement in hydrogen production. ●Safety concerns related to hydrogen storage and transportation were mentioned, with some users highlighting the risks associated with high-pressure hydrogen storage. ●Opinions varied on the future of hydrogen in transportation, with some advocating for its role alongside batteries, depending on the application, and others sceptical of its viability due to efficiency and infrastructure challenges. Figure 21. Tweet about hydrogen fuel cell technology 3.2.6 Reddit case study: H₂'s role in the climate crisis Thread: Is hydrogen really a clean enough fuel to tackle the climate crisis? “There may be some small role in truly green hydrogen in a decarbonised future, but this is largely a marketing creation by the oil and gas industry that has been hugely overhyped.” This Reddit thread discusses the viability and efficiency of hydrogen as a clean fuel, focusing on its potential role in addressing the climate crisis. Various users shared diverse perspectives, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the debate on hydrogen energy. Figure 22. Reddit thread about hydrogen as a clean fuel The thread features a range of opinions on hydrogen's efficacy as a clean fuel. Some users expressed scepticism about hydrogen's efficiency and practicality, especially in transportation and energy storage, while others saw value in its application in heavy industry and chemical processes. Additionally, many comments raised concerns about hydrogen's energy conversion efficiency. The process of electrolysis, compression, transportation, and utilisation of hydrogen was criticised for its high energy loss compared to direct electricity use or battery storage. "The problem is that right now it requires more energy input to create hydrogen than energy generated as fuel." – wilburstiltskin "The efficiency of storing energy by making hydrogen from electricity and then using it in a fuel cell to make electricity again is about half the efficiency of storing electric energy in a battery and getting it back out of the battery." – tuctrohs Several users highlighted the potential of green hydrogen in decarbonising heavy industries such as steelmaking and chemical production. They argued that certain industrial processes cannot be directly electrified and may benefit from hydrogen as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. The discussion also includes debates on hydrogen's suitability for light-duty vehicles and residential heating due to efficiency and infrastructure challenges. In this sense, users expressed concerns about the infrastructure required for hydrogen distribution and storage, including issues related to safety, leakage, and the energy-intensive nature of hydrogen compression and transportation. "Hydrogen is very volatile so has anyone ever seen a hydrogen engine blow up? It's pretty nasty." – ComprehensiveTax4601 "Storing and burning hydrogen is a waste of energy. Using it in a fuel cell improves things, but again, is wasted energy." – LordOfRuinsOtherSelf Throughout the thread, some users suggested that the push for hydrogen could be a form of greenwashing. The discussion reflected a distrust of fossil fuel companies' intentions regarding the promotion of hydrogen energy. Finally, the conversation also touched on the economic aspects of hydrogen production, including subsidies, incentives, and the potential impact of hydrogen on the energy market. Users debated the best allocation of resources and investments in the context of transitioning to cleaner energy sources. "Green hydrogen is the original clean coal. Same people are promoting it for the same reasons." – LanternCandle "Green hydrogen is being promoted because... the model for manufacture, distribution, and sales is the same as the model for petrol fuel." – gallaj0 3.2.7 Reddit case study: H₂as a transition fuel Thread: Thoughts on Hydrogen Fuel? The Reddit thread delves into the nuances of hydrogen fuel's role in the transition to cleaner energy, focusing on its potential and limitations. Participants discussed various aspects, including efficiency, production methods, and applications in different sectors. Figure 23. Reddit thread about hydrogen fuel's role in the transition to cleaner energy Users expressed doubts about hydrogen's efficiency as an energy carrier. Concerns were highlighted about the energy lost during the conversion process from electricity to hydrogen and back, questioning its practicality compared to direct electric solutions. Users also discussed the potential role of hydrogen in sectors hard to electrify, like heavy transport and industrial processes. "There is no point transitioning to green hydrogen. It's 3x less efficient than simply transmitting the energy to cars via wires and costs 6x as much." – almost_not_terrible "You cannot change the laws of physics to suit your wish for hydrogen to be anything but a niche fuel in the electrified future." – Initialised "Heavy transport will be though and there billions of dollars being invested in that right now." – Changleen Throughout the thread, users compared H₂to batteries and other energy storage methods, discussing the pros and cons. They evaluated hydrogen's role both as a primary energy source and as an energy carrier or storage mechanism. In addition, concerns were raised about hydrogen's safety due to its volatile nature and the substantial infrastructure investments needed for its storage and distribution. "Hydrogen is comparable to a battery more than to a fuel." – Nibb31 "Storing and burning hydrogen is a waste of energy. Using it in a fuel cell improves things, but again, is wasted energy." – CMG30 Finally, the conversation included economic aspects of hydrogen production and usage, considering costs, subsidies, and the financial feasibility of hydrogen as part of the clean energy transition. "The main driver to reduce green hydrogen costs is simply electricity costs." – Changleen "Grid scale electrolysers are very expensive so you need to run them as much as possible to get the return on investment." – CMG30 3.2.8 Reddit case study: H₂'s future in road transport Thread: 'Far too expensive' | Europe’s second-largest truck maker says hydrogen will not be a major road freight fuel. It is about four to five times as costly as what customers are willing to pay. It expects further development in battery technology that will increase the range of heavy-duty EVs. This thread focuses on the debate over hydrogen's viability as a fuel source for the trucking industry. The main topic revolved around the assertion that hydrogen fuel is considerably more expensive than alternatives, making it an unattractive option for the trucking industry. The thread discussed the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of hydrogen compared to electric vehicles (EVs) and conventional fuels. Figure 24. Reddit thread about hydrogen's viability as a fuel source for the trucking industry Some participants argued that when environmental costs are considered, hydrogen—especially when produced via green methods—could be more viable, emphasising the need to factor in the broader environmental impacts of energy choices. There was a consensus that ongoing advancements in battery technology could make electric trucks more competitive, potentially diminishing the role of hydrogen in road freight. "Yeah hydrogen for cars probably won't be a thing on a large scale commercially. However, for planes, trains and ships it would work great." – Laugh92 "It isn’t expensive when you start thinking of the environment as a cost." – Atheios569 3.2.9 Reddit case study: Viability of hydrogen energy Thread: Why the hate on hydrogen? This thread explores various viewpoints on hydrogen as an energy source. The discussion addressed scepticism around hydrogen, questioning its efficiency and practicality compared to other energy carriers, especially for transportation and home heating. Figure 25. Reddit thread about hydrogen as an energy source There were concerns about the suitability of existing infrastructure for hydrogen use and the high costs associated with making necessary modifications. Participants also discussed the economic feasibility and environmental impact of hydrogen, contrasting it with other renewable energy sources and storage methods. "Hydrogen is just a really bad fuel for any energy purpose... it is very dangerous to handle and thus expensive to use in anything." – demultiplexer "No insurer is going to allow all hydrogen in the home without everything inside the home replaced." – demultiplexer "You can't pay off the cost of hydrogen storage tanks let alone all of the fuel cells on equipment you only use once a year." – just_one_last_thing The thread touched on the difference between green, blue, and brown hydrogen, emphasising the importance of sustainable hydrogen production methods. There was also a discussion about the