Now is the right time to consider social justice and acceptance in the hydrogen economy
The social justice and acceptance of green hydrogen should be at the top of the priority list as the hydrogen economy is developed in Finland. This is the assessment of VTT researcher Essi Laitinen in the Kumppanit podcast. Laitinen is involved in two major hydrogen economy projects, and her ongoing doctoral dissertation examines the social acceptance, justice, and conflicts related to Finland’s hydrogen transition.
Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in the green transition and reducing climate emissions. However, the hydrogen economy is not just about economics or climate issues; its growth also raises questions of social justice and acceptance. These may not seem immediately relevant at this early stage of the hydrogen economy, where technological and economic issues dominate discussions, but Laitinen believes that addressing them now is both necessary and beneficial for all stakeholders.
“Ignoring social and justice issues is not a sustainable long-term strategy. We should consider what the hydrogen economy will look like in 10, 20, or 50 years and what kind of consequences we might face if we fail to address these issues in time.”
Laitinen has explored this topic in her doctoral research, which is also linked to two major hydrogen projects she is involved in. BalticSeaH2 is an extensive and Europe’s first cross-border hydrogen valley project, while JustH2Transit examines Finland’s hydrogen transition at a systemic level, closely related to Laitinen’s research. With a background in peace and conflict studies, Laitinen has an uncommon specialization at VTT, but she finds herself in an interesting research community.
“Many people know VTT as a technology research center and pioneering engineering institution, but in reality, we have quite a few social scientists working here, including a few peace and conflict researchers. This suits me well, as I want to be part of multidisciplinary teams where knowledge from different fields comes together.”
Seeking justice
In the Kumppanit podcast, Laitinen highlights three key concepts that relate to major transitions like the hydrogen economy and the green transition, and how they can be carried out justly. These are procedural justice, restorative justice, and distributive (or social) justice.
“Procedural justice means that in any large technological or socio-technical transition, it is beneficial to involve as many affected groups and stakeholders as possible. Restorative justice suggests that as previous energy systems have caused certain injustices, it is important to address and correct them in the new energy transition. Distributive justice is about ensuring that the benefits and burdens of the new energy system are shared as equitably as possible among different social groups and geographically.”
“I see the green transition as an opportunity to correct historical wrongs and do things right from the start, avoiding future disputes. That is why, from a social scientist’s perspective, these issues should be at the top of the priority list,” Laitinen explains.
She further warns that pushing the hydrogen transition forward rapidly without public understanding could lead to future problems.
“Right now, we social scientists are particularly interested in what citizens know about the hydrogen economy and, if they do know something, what they think about it. Currently, our understanding of this is unclear, even though some studies have been conducted on hydrogen awareness and acceptance. These studies indicate that while people have some knowledge about hydrogen, their understanding is often limited to specific hydrogen technologies or parts of the value chain rather than the hydrogen economy as a whole.”
Local conflicts as a risk in the hydrogen economy
Local conflicts are one of the risks associated with the growth of the hydrogen economy. The construction of new hydrogen infrastructure—such as wind and solar power plants, electricity transmission lines, hydrogen production facilities, hydrogen pipelines, or even green steel plants—can raise concerns among local populations and lead to disputes. According to Laitinen, the causes of such conflicts are similar to those seen in other green transition projects.
“It comes down to resource use, such as land. At the local level, hydrogen infrastructure has to be placed somewhere, and water for hydrogen production has to come from somewhere. These are largely land-use conflicts. Environmental values also play a major role.”
“Research on energy conflicts and local opposition to energy infrastructure development has shown that in the Nordic countries, strong local environmental values are often behind opposition. It’s not just about ‘not in my backyard’ attitudes, but people genuinely care about the environmental impacts of projects, as well as the benefits they bring to local communities, such as jobs or tax revenue. These are crucial questions,” Laitinen emphasizes.
Fortunately, there are examples of successful integration of societal and local needs. For instance, in the case of P2X Solutions’ hydrogen and methanation plant being built in Harjavalta, extensive collaboration with the local community—including engaging residents and involving authorities—has led to positive outcomes. Additionally, the plant is located in an existing industrial area, which makes the project easier to understand and accept.
Raising public awareness
Laitinen stresses that public acceptance is crucial for integrating green hydrogen into the energy system. Achieving this requires collaboration with different stakeholders, as well as clear communication and transparency.
“Communication is essential. All hydrogen industry players should invest in increasing public awareness about the hydrogen economy, hydrogen technologies, their benefits and drawbacks, and where they are headed. Safety issues also play a key role and should be discussed openly,” she suggests.
Social justice as risk management
During the podcast discussion, Laitinen also highlights that justice is not just about doing good but also about risk management. Local conflicts and a lack of public acceptance pose significant risks that could lead to major financial losses.
She cites an example from Norway, where some wind farms built in the Sámi region were later deemed illegal in court, resulting in massive compensation payments. According to Laitinen, a similar shift in sentiment can be observed in Finland. For example, in the case of the green steel plant and integrated hydrogen facility in Inkoo, initial enthusiasm has given way to growing local opposition due to environmental concerns.
Laitinen urges hydrogen industry players to take a proactive approach. While many rely on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and the associated public consultation processes, she believes much more can be done.
“We could engage with local communities much earlier if we want to understand and prevent local conflicts. Even before the EIA process, we could reach out to local governments, collaborate with local residents, and explore what additional benefits could be offered to them. This could help facilitate project progress.”
Essi Laitinen was a guest on the Kumppanit podcast, hosted by Maiju Aaltonen and Panu Rahikka.
Listen to episode 21 of the Kumppanit podcast: It’s worth making the hydrogen economy socially just and acceptable
Please note that the podcast is available only in Finnish.
