Hydrogen innovation and just transitions: Exploring sociotechnical configurations of energy futures in a post-industrial community

Abstract

Hydrogen innovation is gaining political momentum to meet climate change and energy security goals. In the UK, hydrogen innovation is centred within industrial hubs including Teesside in Northeast England. This study, based on interviews with industry, policy, and public stakeholders (n = 14), community workshop participants (n = 16), and regional survey respondents (n = 1021) across Teesside, explores the place-based sociotechnical configurations of hydrogen governance emerging within a post-industrial community. We find that although urgency and global competition dominate policy and industry sociotechnical configurations of hydrogen innovation, at the local scale, hydrogen is valued for its potential to diversify and reinforce the fragile regional economy; one historically dependent upon petrochemical and steel industries. While hydrogen innovation is recognised for its positive economic impact, community stakeholders express concern over weak regulatory governance and the financial risks associated with early hydrogen adoption. Distrust in hydrogen industries and regulatory authorities arises due to what we term a “contagion effect” stemming from perceived poor governance across other energy and water utilities. Sociotechnical configurations related to just hydrogen transitions are tied to regional identity, with the post-industrial Northeast perceived either as a place of exploitation or as a beacon of hope for future economic renewal. Teesside is often marked by identities tied to deprivation and industrial stigma. A just hydrogen transition therefore necessitates not only recognition of local worker needs and trust-building with industrial authorities but also stronger acknowledgement of regional post-industrial and re-industrialising identities, alongside effective public representation in hydrogen decision-making.