Challenges in the transition toward a hydrogen-based society: An in-depth study to assess the potential of a transition to a hydrogen-based energy supply in Europe

The Hysociety project, financed under the FP5 framework of the European Commission, aimed to contribute to European policies on hydrogen-related issues through the development of an action plan for the introduction of hydrogen. The geographic target was Europe, focusing on the 15 European Union member states, plus Norway and Iceland. In addition, demonstration projects in Canada, the United States, Japan, Brazil, and China were analyzed. Work package 1 addressed the technological, infrastructural, ecological, economic, political, and cultural challenges of the transition to a hydrogen-based society. The work built upon an analysis of the challenges identified in demonstration projects in all participating countries. In this article we first discuss the transition theory and the methodology used in Hysociety work package 1 and conclude with a discussion of results of the Hysociety project. Copyright ©2006 by Begell House, Inc.