Hydrogen research: Technology first, society second?

Abstract

Hydrogen energy is becoming an additional layer of energy infrastructure, bringing with it various forms of innovation, exnovation, renovation and imitation of energy-society interrelations. While we demonstrated that research in the social sciences and humanities can currently not cope with the pace of political action and technological development, we also argued for speeding up and scaling up relevant research to make the hydrogen transition not solely a technocratic one. Ultimately, every energy transition is also a cultural transition. Understanding that can help us use the hydrogen transition as a catalyst not only for a more democratic European energy union, but also for reducing our impact on the earth system.