Advancing a Hydrogen Economy in Australia: Public Perceptions and Aspirations

Supporters of hydrogen energy advancement argue that it is time to scale up technologies and reduce costs to make hydrogen more competitive. However, for a technology to be successful, public support and acceptance are necessary. In this paper, we explore how hydrogen energy technologies (HET) are perceived by Australia’s general population and consider the way members of the public imagine their role in the implementation of hydrogen energy now and into the future. We report on a mixed methods study that included a nationally representative survey (n = 403) and semi-structured interviews (n = 30). The results found relationships between age and gender and self-reported hydrogen knowledge and revealed 1 in 2 people obtained their information about hydrogen from televised media. While strong support for hydrogen (produced from renewable energy sources) was evidenced through the findings, participants wanted more information about the practicalities of hydrogen specifically on safety. Overall, participants were uncertain about their ability to influence decisions regarding hydrogen and did not necessarily recognise that they have agency beyond their front fence.