Lithuania's residents demonstrate strong confidence in future energy solutions and actively support the country's ambitions to become a producer and exporter of green hydrogen. However, public knowledge of this technology remains limited. According to the latest research, only one in ten residents has sufficient knowledge about green hydrogen, while every second person admits knowing nothing about this fuel of the future — and some believe it is extracted from underground deposits.

A public opinion survey commissioned by Lithuania's gas transmission system operator Amber Grid and conducted by Spinter Research revealed that 52% of the country's residents openly admit they know nothing about green hydrogen. Only 10% claim to have sufficient knowledge, while 38% say they know what it is but not enough to assess its benefits or drawbacks.

The majority of respondents — 75% of those familiar with the term green hydrogen — support the idea of Lithuania becoming a producer and exporter of this resource. Yet nearly half of them do not recognise that green hydrogen is produced using electricity generated from solar and wind energy. Some believe such a substance does not exist in nature, while one in five are convinced that green hydrogen is a natural resource extracted from underground deposits.

Confidence on credit

According to Amber Grid CEO Nemunas Biknys, the survey results show that residents intuitively understand the necessity of the energy transition and its geopolitical importance, yet the technology itself remains poorly understood by the public.

"The strong public support expressed for hydrogen production and its export potential shows that society clearly understands the state's ambition to build an energy-independent economy and sustainable industry. However, this confidence is largely given on credit — people believe in a green future but still struggle to picture how it will work in practice. Lithuania is actively participating in the international North-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor project, and hydrogen as a fuel for industry and transport will soon become an integral part of the economy. It is important to help people understand how this future technology works, its safety, and its direct benefits for decarbonising the country's industry and everyday life," says N. Biknys.

So what is hydrogen?

Hydrogen is neither rare nor exotic — on the contrary, it is the most abundant chemical element in the universe. On Earth, however, pure hydrogen is scarce, as it is highly reactive and quickly bonds with other elements to form water or hydrocarbon molecules.

As an energy carrier, hydrogen is valued for its high energy density. When used to generate energy, it produces no carbon dioxide — only water or water vapour. For this reason, hydrogen is considered one of the most promising alternatives to fossil fuels in industry and transport.

To use hydrogen in industry, energy, or transport, it must be obtained through various technological processes. The production method determines whether hydrogen is referred to as grey, blue, or green.

When we speak of hydrogen in technical terms, we are referring to a gas. It is also important to understand that there are no technically different types of hydrogen — only different methods of producing it. The same hydrogen has been used in industry for decades, though until now it has most commonly been produced from natural gas.

"Today, increasing attention is being paid to green hydrogen, which is produced by splitting water in electrolysis units using electricity from renewable sources — solar and wind energy. This production method emits no carbon dioxide, meaning green hydrogen can help reduce emissions in transport and industry. It would also allow more energy to be generated from local renewable sources, strengthening the country's energy independence. Green hydrogen has the potential to become not only a new fuel but also a new Lithuanian export commodity. Just as we currently export electricity or biomethane, Lithuania could in the future export green hydrogen and fuels derived from it — bringing new investment into regions, creating jobs, increasing the use of locally generated electricity, and generating additional revenue for the national economy," says N. Biknys.

Value linked to a clean environment and independence

The survey shows that even without deeper technical knowledge, residents understand the practical benefits green hydrogen could offer. Its greatest value is associated with the potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the transport sector — 60.2% of respondents identified the replacement of petroleum products in vehicles as the most important application of green hydrogen.

Nearly as many (59.2%) consider the ability to produce and use energy without carbon dioxide emissions to be the most important benefit, and more than half (53.8%) highlight green hydrogen's importance for Lithuania's energy independence — increasing domestic fuel production and reducing reliance on energy imports.

The survey also revealed an interesting paradox. While three quarters of residents support Lithuania becoming a producer and exporter of green hydrogen, only 22.1% identify export as one of the most important applications of this technology. This suggests that the public primarily values the direct benefits of green hydrogen for Lithuania — a cleaner environment and energy independence. Meanwhile, more complex technological functions — such as storing surplus wind and solar energy and balancing the electricity system — are currently better understood only by a portion of the population: 28.1% of respondents highlighted this advantage, more frequently those with higher education and higher incomes.