The social acceptability of hydrogen and its co-construction process, a challenge for the energy transition in the territories.

Summary The main objective of this PhD thesis is to define and study the process of co-construction of the social acceptability of hydrogen, as well as the stakes it represents for the energy transition in the territories. For this purpose, two study areas have been selected, each of which includes a hydrogen mobility demonstration project: Navibus H2 (Nantes) and HyWay (Lyon). As a comparison, the results of a study carried out before the thesis on a third field, GRHYD (Urban Community of Dunkerque) were also integrated into this thesis. The methodology, using various theoretical concepts, was designed to take into account the fact that the subject of the study is not well known by the general public. Surveys were carried out by questionnaire and interviews: in Nantes, before the demonstration, with users of an electric river shuttle and actors of the district served by this shuttle, and in Lyon, during the demonstration, with users of hydrogen-powered electric vehicles, as well as with officials and elected representatives of the metropolis. The results are then analyzed using statistical and textual analyses, and compared with each other and with those of the preliminary survey carried out in Dunkirk. It was thus possible to highlight a set of representations, expectations or attitudes related to hydrogen and more or less shared between the groups studied. A reflection is then proposed on the way to consider a study of social acceptability in connection with demonstration projects, as well as the assets that this represents for an energy transition in the territories.