Social acceptance of hydrogen in islands:

Questionnaire survey at Former Nakajima-cho, Ehime, Japan

Abstract

The energy-storing capacity of hydrogen may create enormous energy security benefits for islands using hydrogen energy. Social acceptability of hydrogen has been extensively studied globally in terms of its safety concerns, whereas existing Japanese literature in the area is very limited. This study conducted a questionnaire survey that examined the social acceptance of hydrogen stations among islanders in Nakajimacho, Ehime, Japan. The acceptance of hydrogen stations (HSs) was mainly determined by personal value. Renewables-based local production of hydrogen was predicted to bring more safety and an environmental improvement impact, whereas fossil fuel-based, transported hydrogen was predicted to have more of an economic development and energy security impact. At the same time, local people accepted HSs more when they predicted that installation of HSs would provide local social benefits, whether or not hydrogen was based on local production from renewables or transported fossil fuels. The result would be of value in examining the viability of the introduction of hydrogen energy in Japanese islands with an aging population.