"Postdoc Value-Based Governance of the Hydrogen Transition"

The hydrogen economy is gradually materializing. What are the underlying values shaping the transition to renewable ("green") hydrogen and how can the institutional and market embedding of new hydrogen systems take these values into account? Using qualitative methodologies (interviews, desk research, field observation, and exploratory workshops), the candidate will map and analyze the principal value trade-offs at stake in the hydrogen economy and advise stakeholders on a value-sensitive upscaling and implementation of hydrogen production, storage and transport. The candidate will employ system- and discourse-analytical tools, along with institutional analysis, to map values and analyze underlying value conflicts under conditions of normative uncertainty. This activity will deliver a critical, tailor-made analytical overview of the diverse and dynamic values at stake in the future hydrogen economy and assess the extent to which these values are addressed in existing or emerging hydrogen policy, laws, and regulations. The results will be presented in a report and paper(s) on dynamic values for the hydrogen transition.

Values will be understood in a pluralistic view as situated in, and interactive with, specific institutional, geographic, market and technological contexts. The development and integration of renewable hydrogen technologies should take this into account if the ideal of "hydrogen for good" is to be realized. Yet stakeholders lack the knowledge on the relevant values and the associated integration measures/policies. In developing context-specific standards for value judgment, attention will be given to tensions arising from close interactions between society, policy, academia, and industry, such as (a) divergent value interpretations and expectations, (b) value trade-offs complicating the (re)creation of appropriate rules of the game, and (c) formal and informal stakeholder involvement in rulemaking and the (re)creation of institutional arrangements when translating values into new ‘rules of the game’.

This postdoc position is funded under the HySUCCESS project, which is part of the R&D programme of GroenVermogenNL. You will work closely with other colleagues involved in GroenVermogen including Aad Correljé, Toyah Rodhouse, Eugen Popa and Udo Pesch. You will join a lively community of internationally renowned interdisciplinary energy researchers in the Department of Ethics and Philosophy of Technology at TU Delft. Our faculty hosts a diverse group of people from different countries and disciplines, and we welcome candidates that contribute to and enjoy this diversity.

Correljé, A., Pesch, U., & Cuppen, E. (2022). Understanding Value Change in the Energy Transition: Exploring the Perspective of Original Institutional Economics. Science and Engineering Ethics, 28(6), 55.

Popa, E. O., & Melnyk, A. (2025). Taking value conflicts seriously: Technological pluralism as an approach to hydrogen governance. Energy Strategy Reviews, 59, 101734.

Rodhouse, T. S. G. H., Cuppen, E. H. W. J., Correljé, A. F., & Pesch, U. (2024). A new carrier for old assumptions? Imagined publics and their justice implications for hydrogen development in the Netherlands. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 204, 123412.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic researcher who combines an interdisciplinary background with strong collaboration and analytical skills. The candidates with the following background and qualities are particularly encouraged to apply: A PhD in Energy Policy, Science and Technology Studies, Policy Sciences (including Political Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Discourse Analysis, Policy Analysis), Urban Studies, Organization and Management Studies, or another relevant interdisciplinary specialization. Experience with and enthusiasm for combining moral/political questions and technical knowledge of the hydrogen economy or energy transition more generally. Acquaintance with the energy system is considered an advantage. Experience in collaborating with researchers, practitioners and decision-makers who have diverse organizational and disciplinary backgrounds. Strong analytical skills combined with a creative and innovative approach. Excellent command of spoken and written English. Functional command of Dutch is an advantage.

Duration of contract is 2 years. A job of 30-40 hours per week. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.