Green hydrogen from a socio-economic perspective

The findings show that neither electricity grids nor hydrogen pipelines offer a universal advantage; the best solution depends on local conditions and scale. Electricity price is the most decisive factor for competitiveness, while infrastructure costs are a minor part of total production costs. Co-location and the use of by-products like oxygen and heat can improve cost efficiency, especially in bioelectrofuel systems, but these benefits are highly context dependent.

Socio-economic factors such as land use, permitting, and public acceptance add further complexity, highlighting the importance of early stakeholder engagement and coordinated planning. Ultimately, the report concludes that integrated development of electricity and hydrogen infrastructure provides the greatest socio-economic benefit and flexibility for Sweden’s energy future.