Energy literacy and public perception will be key attributes for a smoother energy transition over the next 5-10 years. As the energy mix changes with new and improved technologies adopted, and new energy sources introduced, there is bound to be uncertainty in the minds of some. Public engagement and benefit sharing are all on the agenda as we move towards a carbon neutral world.
Recently two teams from Queensland University of Technology and Swinburne University’s Victorian Hydrogen Hub collaborated on a public acceptance workshop to share findings from recent national surveys, explore current perceptions of hydrogen and learn from previous experiences in the energy sector. A summary report of the event can be found here.
The workshop participants acknowledged that public expectations can be influenced by misinformation or “pushing too hard, too soon”, community concerns need to be carefully addressed with nuance depending on local issues, demonstration projects can help build understanding and that there may be value in bringing divergent views together. These steps will all need to be taken into consideration as the hydrogen industry develops.