A conceptual framework for assessing and monitoring social risks and impacts related to hydrogen technologies and their value chains

The proposed conceptual framework aims at assessing social risks, impacts and benefits generated by hydrogen technologies and their value chains, addressing technologies at different Technology Readiness Levels. Risks, impacts and benefits are captured at two levels: technology-specific impacts and impacts at macro level. The framework is rooted into the life cycle approach, and proposes six social areas of concerns (i.e., social topic of interest for society) and a set of social indicators for measuring them. Most of the indicators can already be measured and evaluated, and only a limited set requires further operationalization. Addressing all the areas of concerns of the framework as well as the potential benefits can contribute to increase the acceptability of the hydrogen technologies by stakeholders. The application of the framework to all hydrogen-related projects funded by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking programme, coupled with the financial value of the projects, can be the basis for defining Key Performance Indicators for measuring the social value generated by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking programme.