Unfolding Versus Upholding: Established Sociotechnical Imaginaries in Hydrogen Policymaking in Chile, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The vision of a hydrogen economy emerged as a promising solution for achieving a net-zero transformation. Having been shaped by diverse dynamics, it stabilizes in multiple countries as socially performative vision. However, while the transition towards a hydrogen-based energy system accelerates, various prevailing sociotechnical imaginaries that are deeply embedded and widely shared visions of what is considered achievable and desirable in the future of a national state influence the shape of the vision.

This study explores the intricate ways in which sociotechnical imaginaries have co-shaped hydrogen policymaking in the United Kingdom, Chile, and Germany. We conduct a Sociological Discourse Analysis of various policymaking documents (2003-2022) supported by qualitative interviews to elucidate the country-specific hydrogen visions present in the structures of policies and how they have been influenced by sociotechnical imaginaries. We also explore secondary literature to describe the historical and contemporary context of institutions and materialities related to identified sociotechnical imaginaries.

Our research reveals that the development of hydrogen visions in all countries appears to prioritize economic benefits over strictly following climate targets. However, variations exist in how the hydrogen vision is framed. In this context, Chile’s hydrogen visions are strongly influenced by the historically established imaginary of Chile as an exporter of natural resources and a ‘mining nation’, aligning with extractivists principles. On the other hand, the countries from the global north envision hydrogen as a way of maintaining their economic advantages. In Germany, hydrogen visions are primarily shaped by the sociotechnical imaginary of an industry nation and technology exporter, while established fossil-fuel imaginaries strongly influenced the UK's hydrogen visions.

Against this background, we discuss the governance modes that not only engage with expectations regarding emerging technologies but also track firmly entrenched in history and contemporary societal institutions and materialities accounts shaping future visions of emerging and alternative technologies.