Assessment of the overall effectiveness of institutions for the development of hydrogen energy in Japan and China

This article addresses the issues related to assessing the effectiveness of institutions that contribute to the introduction of hydrogen energy in Japan and China. The relevance of such research is due to these countries’ pursuit of decarbonization in their energy sectors and the need for systematic analysis of institutional mechanisms determining the success of transition to hydrogen technologies and solutions. As theoretical foundation, an original index developed by the authors as a comprehensive metric tool is applied. The methodology of its calculation assumes a balanced assessment of four key criteria: legal efficiency, economic efficiency, operational efficiency, and social efficiency. Specific subcriteria are identified for each criterion, which makes it possible to take into account such parameters as the maturity of the institute, the impact on the industry, and compliance with international standards. Verification of values and indicators was carried out on the basis of relevant literature, statistical data, and expert assessments, which ensures high reliability of the results obtained. The proposed index integrates quantitative and qualitative parameters, which makes it possible to assess not only the current state of institutions, but also their “long-term” potential. This proposed index integrates quantitative and qualitative parameters including access to funding, regulatory framework, and technological development level, allowing evaluation of not only the current state, but also long-term potential of institutions. The general methodology is based on comparative analysis between two states, where Japan serves as an example of early adoption of hydrogen technologies, while China demonstrates accelerated growth in this field with active government regulation. Special atte tion is given to the impact of institutional environment on overcoming barriers, such as high cost of hydrogen technologies and insufficient infrastructure for storage and tran sportation. The study demonstrates that the proposed index can identify structural vulnerabilities and provide targeted recommendations to enhance institutional efficiency, which has significant practical implications for countries aiming at implementing va rious forms of hydrogen systems. The results clearly confirm the hypothesis that combination of technological and institutional efficiency is a critically important factor for successful development of hydrogen energy, making the index developed by the authors a universal tool for comparative analysis of institutional trajectories across different countries, taking into account their specific features.

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