The value of secure electricity supply for increasing acceptance of green hydrogen First experimental evidence from the virtual reality lab*

To unlock the high potential of green hydrogen in reaching the ambitious 1.5 °C goal declared by the Paris Agreement, enormous (public) investments are needed. Social acceptance of these investments is required in order to implement hydrogen technologies as fast and efficiently as possible. This study investigates which benefits associated with green hydrogen foster its social acceptance. Using a between-subject design, we implement two different treatments. Both treatments have in common that the participants experience the transformation into a hydrogen economy in a virtual reality scenario. In Info Security of Supply we provide the participants information about the benefits of green hydrogen regarding the security of energy supply and climate protection. In Control we inform them only about the benefits regarding climate protection. Subsequently, the participants decide about the financial support of a hydrogen project. Our preliminary results show a higher support if the focus is solely on the positive impact of green hydrogen for the climate protection.