Unfamiliar fuel: How the UK public views the infrastructure required to supply hydrogen for road transport

Copyright © 2016, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. In 2007, under contract to the UK Department for Transport, we engaged with the public about the infrastructure to supply hydrogen for transport. We combined a quota-sample survey of 1003 across three disparate 'travel-to-work areas' in England with focus groups representative of them. We informed the groups 'at arm's length' through a purpose-made video, composed with advice from a hydrogen scientist and made by professional broadcasters. Participants saw benefits in hydrogen energy. None rejected it on safety grounds, though many discussed the risks. The costs were considered a problem. 'The public' was not of one mind. Regular car drivers were unwilling to reduce their car use. Bus users, cyclists and walkers often sought improvements in air quality. Motorists knew more than others about hydrogen energy. In discussion we seek psychological and socio-cultural explanations for these results. We conclude by drawing out implications for the future of hydrogen in transport

Might more harm be done than good when scientists and engineers engage with the public about new technology before it is fully developed? The case of hydrogen energy

We report consultation about hydrogen energy at the Hydrogen Centre in South Wales with members of the public in the region. The Centre's research staff guided tours and outside sociologists made the independent assessment presented here. Hydrogen energy is a technology under development. The question is as follows: Does any risk to its future in consulting the public ‘upstream’ of its full development outweigh any risk in not consulting them? The Hydrogen Centre was started in 2008. In 2011, it opened to three age groups: Baccalaureate students of 14, Tertiary College students of 18–19 and adult members of a Citizens’ Panel. The sociologists (1) observed how the Centre's prototype of micro-generation of hydrogen energy was presented; (2) conducted surveys before their visits—of what visitors knew and wanted to find out, and after—of what they learned; (3) facilitated deliberation in focus groups about what hydrogen implies both globally and for the region and (4) fed back the findings to a meeting of the Centre staff and others in the Low Carbon Research Institute for Wales (at Cardiff University, November 2011). In this paper, we focus on the reticence of Centre staff about the visits—for their research was incomplete and key equipment was lacking at the time. Yet the visitors appear to have learned about hydrogen energy, remedied some mistaken ideas and taken away positive impressions. We conclude that engaging with the public as the technology develops might not be a significant risk to research. Not to do so might be more of a risk

Sustainable transport visions: What role for hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle technologies?

Transport systems perform vital societal functions, but in their present state cannot be considered 'sustainable'. Particular concerns in this respect include emissions, accidents, land use, noise and inaccessibility of amenities. Increasing attention is being focussed or hydrogen transport technologies as a possible means of achieving more sustainable transport. In this paper, we draw on expert stakeholder evidence and the wider literature to elucidate criteria for sustainable transport and determine the extent to which hydrogen transport technologies can meet these criteria. Our findings indicate that hydrogen could alleviate some of the problems in the transport sector associated with emissions and energy supply security. However, other transport problems are not mitigated - and some may even be exacerbated - by hydrogen use. Thus, we highlight the need for integrated transport policies and argue for more reflexive and inclusive societal debate about the impacts and beneficiaries of hydrogen transport technologies