Socio-political determinants of public acceptance of green hydrogen

• Analysed determinants of preferences for green hydrogen in South Korea. • Lasso, ridge, and elastic net models were used for variable selection. • Public perception of the climate change crisis is a main social driver. • People with conservative political ideology tend to favour green hydrogen. Green hydrogen, produced through renewable energy sources, is emerging as a pivotal element in global energy transitions. Despite its potential, public acceptance remains a critical barrier to its large-scale implementation. This study aims to identify the socio-political and demographic determinants of public acceptance of green hydrogen. Using advanced variable selection methods, including ridge, lasso, and elastic net regression, we analyzed perceptions of climate change, trust in government policies, and demographic characteristics. The findings reveal that individuals prioritizing climate change over economic growth, perceiving its impacts as severe, and recognizing it as South Korea's most pressing issue are more likely to accept green hydrogen. Trust in the government's climate change response also emerged as a key factor. Demographic characteristics, such as younger age, higher income, advanced education, smaller family size, and conservative political ideology, were significantly associated with greater acceptance. These results highlight the importance of raising public awareness about the urgency of climate change and enhancing trust in government policies to promote societal acceptance of green hydrogen. Policymakers should consider these factors when developing strategies to advance the adoption of green hydrogen technologies and foster sustainable energy transitions.