Thesis supervisors: François-Mathieu Poupeau and Caroline Gallez
In recent years, "green" hydrogen has been presented as a "miracle solution" for the energy transition that could lead to an "industrial and energy revolution." The aim of this thesis is to put the idea of a "green hydrogen revolution" into perspective. It examines the changes in terms of infrastructure, practices, and governance that the introduction of this energy vector could bring about in the French energy system. With this in mind, the thesis seeks to describe the deployment of hydrogen in France and its regions from the 2010s to the beginning of 2022, through two dimensions: multi-level governance and socio-technical controversies. Considering that the trajectory of hydrogen is the result of a technical and economic construct, the thesis studies how actors at different levels approach the subject and the strategies that result from it.
To account for our analysis at the interface between socio-technical and socio-political approaches, we use the notion of socio-technical configuration. This concept describes more or less stable assemblages of heterogeneous transcalar elements around which networks of actors form, giving rise to different conceptions of how to plan its deployment. This thesis
shows that
hydrogen
is not
bringing
about a "revolution"
in the French energy sector.
The technical
and
economic difficulties encountered,
the successive problematizations, and
the
takeover
of the subject
by traditional actors in the
energy sector are all factors that contribute to reducing the possibilities for more radical transformation.
shows that
hydrogen
is not
bringing
about a "revolution"
in the French energy sector.
The technical
and
economic difficulties encountered,
the successive problematizations, and
the
takeover
of the subject
by traditional actors in the
energy sector are all factors that contribute to reducing the possibilities for more radical transformation.
Keywords: hydrogen; trajectory; multi-level governance; socio-technical controversies; socio-technical configurations; French energy system
Defense on Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Podcast from Ingenius magazine on the thesis (Ecole des Ponts)
: https://ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr/articles/le-deploiement-de-lhydrogene-en-france-et-dans-les-territoires/
Year of enrollment
: 2019
Doctoral school
: City, Transportation, and Territories (VTT)
Members of the jury
Anne-Cécile Douillet, University Professor, CERAPS Rapporteur
Thomas Reverdy, University Professor, PACTE Rapporteur
Annabelle Brisse, Doctor, EIFER until 12/31/2021 then Hynamics Examiner
Alain Nadai, Research Director, CIRED Examiner
François-Mathieu Poupeau
, Research Director, LATTS Thesis Director
Caroline Gallez, Research Director, Gustave Eiffel University Co-Thesis Director