Developing an Ecosystem Framework for Green Hydrogen Scale-Up: A Contribution to Innovation Leadership

Abstract

Global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) caused by humankind and the debate about energy security in Europe due to ongoing political and bellicist conflicts, as well as a high mass-related energy density and already well-developed technologies, make green hydrogen1 from renewable resources one of the promises of salvation. Green hydrogen is on the edge of moving to industrial scale, from innovation to business. Ecosystem theory can help leaders to shape this transition. An explorative qualitative descriptive study design was chosen for the research of the joint value creation, emergence, and ecosystem archetypes as it is needed for describing the object, the green hydrogen ecosystem (GHE). We interviewed 22 experts utilizing a semi-structured interview guide. The data were systematically analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Decarbonization is set as an objective to be achieved through joint value creation of the GHE by providing green hydrogen continuously in the appropriate quantity, with the corresponding price, at the desired location, and at the right time. The innovation ecosystem must be transformed into a business ecosystem with the objective of reducing the risk for all actors.