Academic Editor: Andrea G. Capodaglio Received: 21 August 2024 Revised: 7 November 2024 Accepted: 19 November 2024 Published: 4 January 2025 Citation: Palanca, A.G.; Chao, C.L.V.; Yap, K.J.R.; de Leon, R.L. Bridging the Gap: Public Perception and Acceptance of Hydrogen Technology in the Philippines. Sustainability 2025, 17, 324. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su17010324 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/). Article Bridging the Gap: Public Perception and Acceptance of Hydrogen Technology in the Philippines Alvin Garcia Palanca 1, *, Cherry Lyn V. Chao 1 , Kristian July R. Yap 2 and Rizalinda L. de Leon 2 1 Energy Engineering Program, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines; cvchao@up.edu.ph 2 Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines; kryap@up.edu.ph (K.J.R.Y.); rldeleon@up.edu.ph (R.L.d.L.) * Correspondence: agpalanca@up.edu.ph Abstract: This study examines the effects of transitioning to hydrogen production in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Palawan Province, Philippines, focusing on technology, environment, and stakeholder impact. This research, conducted through a July 2022 survey, aimed to assess public awareness, knowledge, risk perception, and acceptance of hydro- gen and its environmentally friendly variant, green hydrogen, infrastructure. Disparities were found between urban NCR and rural Palawan, with lower awareness in Palawan. Safety concerns were highlighted, with NCR respondents generally considering hydrogen production safe, while Palawan respondents had mixed feelings, particularly regarding nuclear-based hydrogen generation. This report emphasizes the potential ecological ad- vantages of hydrogen technology but highlights potential issues concerning water usage and land impacts. It suggests targeted public awareness campaigns, robust safety assur- ance programs, regional pilot projects, and integrated environmental plans to facilitate the seamless integration of hydrogen technology into the Philippines’ energy portfolio. This collective effort aims to help the country meet climate action obligations, foster sustainable development, and enhance energy resilience. Keywords: perception; green hydrogen; sustainable energy; energy; urban environment and sustainability; sustainability; survey; decarbonization; energy policy; hydrogen 1. Introduction 1.1. Background of This Study The Philippines committed in 2015 to the 2016 Paris agreement to meet its pledge by implementing the national climate action plan by integrating climate change into national and local development plans for sustainable electricity production in the country [1]. Renewable energy (RE) resources, such as solar and wind, need to expand their penetration into the country’s national energy mix to attain its commitment to the 1.5 Paris agreement. This study examines grid-scale hydrogen storage, which presents a promising solution for addressing the intermittency of renewable energy sources like solar and wind. By offering large-scale, long-duration storage capacity, grid-scale hydrogen systems can help stabilize the energy grid, ensure a continuous energy supply, and improve energy resilience in the Philippines. However, solar and wind energy technology’s intermittent output and mismatched peak production with peak demand pose a significant challenge for existing island grid integrations, resulting in grid instability and the curtailment of electricity supplies to its end users [2]. The high generation cost of electricity during a peak-demand period is another fundamental concern in the electricity market. The price of electricity at Sustainability 2025, 17, 324 https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010324