Investigating attitudes to hydrogen refuelling facilities and the social cost to local residents

Vehicles fuelled by hydrogen (H2) have attracted increasing attention because of their potentially enhanced environmental profiles. Their penetration into the vehicle stock will be influenced by the spread of refuelling facilities. This study investigates local attitudes towards the proposed installation of H2 storage facilities at existing refuelling stations throughout London. Using multinomial logit analysis, we identify the determinants of attitudes. Results suggest that residents living very close to a proposed H2 facility are less likely to be opposed than residents living 200–500 m away. Opposition appears to be determined by a lack of trust in safety regulations, non-environmental attitudes, and concerns about the existing local refuelling station. The social cost to local residents of a local H2 storage facility was estimated using a method developed by Atkinson et al. [2004. ‘Amenity’ or ‘eyesore’? Negative willingness to pay for options to replace electricity transmission towers. Applied Economics Letters 11(4), 203–208], which elicits the amount of time respondents are willing to commit to oppose a new facility development. Using the leisure rate of time, the social cost is estimated at just under £14 per local opposed resident. Add to this the WTP to support opposition efforts by a local group, and the value comes to just under £25 per opposed resident.