Public attitudes to nuclear energy

The last decade has seen a marked increase in public concern about nuclear energy. As a consequence, it is now recognized that the future of nuclear energy will not only depend on technical and economic factors, but that public acceptability of this technology will play a crucial role in its long-term future. This paper summarizes trends in public reactions to nuclear power in various countries and discusses a number of studies on public beliefs and attitudes to nuclear power in general, and to the building of a nuclear power plant near to one's home. It is concluded that the qualitative aspects of the possible risks of nuclear energy play an important role in the public's perception of this technology. It is also clear, however, that differences in perception of the risks do not embrace all the relevant aspects of the public's assessment of nuclear energy. Public reaction is also related to more general beliefs and values, such as emphasis on economic versus social priorities, attitudes to technology and environmental concern.     

The coming sustainable energy transition: History,strategies, and outlook

Facing global climate change and scarce petroleum supplies, the world must switch to sustainable energy systems. While historical transitions between major energy sources have occurred, most of these shifts lasted over a century or longer and were stimulated by resource scarcity, high labor costs, and technological innovations. The energy transition of the 21st century will need to be more rapid. Unfortunately, little is known about how to accelerate energy transitions. This article reviews past transitions and factors behind them, along with their time frames. Three modern case studies are discussed: Brazil, which shifted from an oil-based transportation system to one based on sugarcane-ethanol (success); France, which shifted from oil-fired electric power to nuclear power (success); and the United States, which attempted to shift from foreign oil to a mix of domestic energy resources (failure). Lessons from these attempts to govern energy transitions are discussed. Several policy instruments to accelerate a transition are identified, though even under ideal circumstances a global energy supply transition will be very slow. Given the need to simultaneously implement programs in countries with different political economies, a greater focus on energy efficiency, promotion of Smart Grids, and possibly a new treaty should yield more timely results.     

Does risk information change the acceptance of hydrogen refueling stations in the general Japanese population?

Hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are inevitable infrastructure for the utility of fuel cell vehicles, but they can raise people's safety concerns. We analyzed whether information on the risk/safety measures changed people's acceptance of HRSs. Respondents were provided those information and asked to rate their acceptance of an HRS placement either beside their home or at the gas station closest to their home. The respondents' perception of the risk of HRSs and their attitudes on environmental issues are analyzed by factor analyses. The results show that provision of the quantitative risk information and risk acceptance criteria increased the acceptability of HRS in proximity to the homes of respondents (P < 0.1) but decreased the acceptability of HRS at the nearest gas station. Factor analyses suggest that risk information on HRS alleviates the respondents' feelings of dread or uncertainty, leading to better acceptance. Our study should promote improved risk communication prior to HRS installation.     

Identification of public acceptance factors with risk perception scales on hydrogen fueling stations in Japan

This is the first work to describe the characteristics of public acceptance of hydrogen stations (H2 station) in Japan using risk perception scales. We conducted an online survey asking respondents to rate their acceptance of having an H2 station constructed in the gas station nearest their home. Sixty-six percent of respondents indicated a high rate of acceptance, with males tending to be more accepting than females, irrespective of age. We found the following to be explanatory factors for acceptance: gender, degree, vehicle use, knowledge about hydrogen, risk perception of H2 station, and inherent risk acceptance and avoidance. Binominal regression analysis was used to construct an acceptance model, and the risk perception factor “Dread” was dominant among the effective independent variables. This suggests that alleviating inherent dread or fear by providing precise risk information will lead to better acceptance. Our study contributes to improved risk communication on H2 station construction.     

Realizing energy infrastructure projects – A qualitative empirical analysis of local practices to address social acceptance

The federal state of Upper Austria, at a crossing point for European energy grids, provides large-scale resources for storage of natural gas and is among the top infrastructures in this regard in Europe. Considering the ambitious plans for enhancements of energy infrastructures in this region, the issue of social acceptance of energy infrastructure is crucial. To foster an understanding of the challenges inherent in this issue we present an analysis concentrating on the social acceptance of energy infrastructure projects in Upper Austria. This paper addresses the issues with realizing energy infrastructure projects and analyzes the problems and benefits based on an empirical–qualitative study comprising expert interviews, discussions with stakeholders, and a round table workshop integrating the disparate viewpoints. The aim of the process was to integrate different attitudes, perspectives and positions of relevant stakeholders, members of citizens’ initiatives, environmental organizations and of the national government and local authorities. The results presented are based on both the analysis of the empirical–qualitative data and the existing studies and literature on social acceptance. The qualitative research compares experiences and current practices with social acceptance issues (like frameworks, participation, communication strategies) in a set of considered energy infrastructure projects.     

The changing face of public support for hydrogen technology explaining declining support among the Dutch (2008–2013)

The public acceptance of hydrogen technology has been the topic of many social-scientific studies. Whereas most of these studies rely on cross-sectional survey data, this paper analyses pooled data from representative surveys done in 2008 and in 2013, enabling to investigate whether and how exactly the public acceptance of hydrogen energy changed over time, and to study the reasons for this change to occur. I find that in the five years under survey, Dutch public opinion has become less favorable with respect to hydrogen technology. Structural equation modeling on the total sample, and a subsample of people who were included in both the 2008 as the 2013 sample revealed that this decline in acceptance of hydrogen technology can mainly be explained by a general decline in trust in science and technology that took place in the Netherlands in the period under observation.     

Public perception on hydrogen infrastructure in Japan: Influence of rollout of commercial fuel cell vehicles

A public survey was conducted in March 2015 in Japan asking public awareness, knowledge, perception and acceptance regarding hydrogen, hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell vehicle. Changes in answers were found by comparing results of current survey to those of the two previous surveys that were conducted six and seven years ago. We found a large increase in the awareness and relatively a small improvement on knowledge on hydrogen energy, hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell vehicle from the previous surveys. In contrast we did not find much changes in perception of risk and benefit on hydrogen society and hydrogen station and public acceptance of hydrogen infrastructure. Through the regression analyses we found the small influence of time background as well as the influence of risk and benefit perception of hydrogen infrastructure on the acceptance. In conclusion, we find people have become a little more positive about hydrogen infrastructure in the baseline but more cautious about the risk and benefits. This can be interpreted as a change in the quality of perception and acceptance, that is, the favorable prejudice to hydrogen energy and fuel cell technologies has changed towards a slightly more rational support.     

Unknowing but supportive? Predispositions,knowledge, and support for hydrogen technology in the Netherlands

In most papers concerning the public evaluation of hydrogen technology it is found that the general public is generally supportive of hydrogen technology and the knowledge about hydrogen is fairly low. In this paper we hypothesize that several cultural predispositions such as environmental concern and trust in technology play a key mediating role in the degree to which knowledge can be translated into hydrogen acceptance.     

“Fracking” controversy and communication: Using national survey data to understand public perceptions of hydraulic fracturing

The recent push to develop unconventional sources of oil and gas both in the U.S. and abroad via hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) has generated a great deal of controversy. Effectively engaging stakeholders and setting appropriate policies requires insights into current public perceptions of this issue. Using a nationally representative U.S. sample (N=1061), we examine public perceptions of hydraulic fracturing including: “top of mind” associations; familiarity with the issue; levels of support/opposition; and predictors of such judgments. Similar to findings on other emerging technologies, our results suggest limited familiarity with the process and its potential impacts and considerable uncertainty about whether to support it. Multiple regression analysis (r²=.49) finds that women, those holding egalitarian worldviews, those who read newspapers more than once a week, those more familiar with hydraulic fracturing, and those who associate the process with environmental impacts are more likely to oppose fracking. In contrast, people more likely to support fracking tend to be older, hold a bachelor's degree or higher, politically conservative, watch TV news more than once a week, and associate the process with positive economic or energy supply outcomes. Based on these findings, we discuss recommendations for future research, risk communication, and energy policy.     

Beyond public acceptance of energy infrastructure: How citizens make sense and form reactions by enacting networks of entities in infrastructure development

This article adds to the growing insight into public acceptance by presenting a novel approach to how citizens make sense of new energy infrastructure. We claim that to understand public acceptance, we need to go beyond the current thinking of citizens framed as passive respondents to proposed projects, and instead view infrastructure projects as enacted by citizens in their local settings. We propose a combination of sensemaking theory and actor–network theory that allows insight into how citizens enact entities from experiences and surroundings in order to create meaning and form a reaction to new infrastructure projects. Empirically, we analyze how four citizens make sense of an electricity cable project through a conversation process with a representative from the infrastructure developer. Interestingly, the formal participation process and the materiality of the cable play minor roles in citizens' sensemaking process. We conclude that insight into the way citizens are making sense of energy infrastructure processes can improve and help to overcome shortcomings in the current thinking about public acceptance and public participation.     

Nuclear renaissance,public perception and design criteria: An exploratory review

There is currently an international drive to build new nuclear power plants, bringing about what is being termed a “nuclear renaissance”. However, the public perception of nuclear energy has historically been, and continues to be, a key issue, particularly in light of the Fukushima nuclear incident. This paper discusses the disparity between perceived and calculated risks based on the last four decades of research into risk perception. The leading psychological and sociological theories, Psychometric Paradigm and Cultural Theory, respectively, are critically reviewed. The authors then argue that a new nuclear-build policy that promotes a broader approach to design incorporating a wider range of stakeholder inputs, including that of the lay public, may provide a means for reducing the perceived risk of a nuclear plant. Further research towards such a new approach to design is proposed, based on integrating expert and lay stakeholder inputs and taking into account broader socio-cultural factors whilst maintaining the necessary emphasis on safety, technological development, economics and environmental sustainability.     

The potential contribution of thermo power plants in the Brazilian electric sector

This paper aims at analyzing particularities of the Brazilian electric system and at evaluating the potential contribution of thermal power plants targeting at its higher reliability. In special, the aim is at analyzing the insertion of thermal power production in the present context in which hydroplants start to be built in the Amazon area with small reservoir capacity. An assessment of the behavior of the energy inflows and of the regularization capacity of the Brazilian hydro power system emphazises the need for having a good quality thermal power expansion. The power production from sugarcane residues is specially considered due to the existing untapped potential (about 4 times higher than the installed capacity, considering the current availability of biomass) and the existing window opportunity due to the expansion of sugarcane industry in Brazil (mostly for ethanol production).     

Climate change benefits and energy supply benefits as determinants of acceptance of nuclear power stations: Investigating an explanatory model

Several countries are currently discussing whether they will rebuild their nuclear power stations in order to continue this type of energy production in the future. The public, with its own opinion about nuclear power stations, has an influential voice in this discussion. As a result, policy makers and nuclear scientists are interested in the public's perception of nuclear power and in what determines this perception. We therefore examined an explanatory model of the public's acceptance of nuclear power based on a telephone survey among a representative sample in Switzerland. The model included such factors as risk perception, benefit perception, affective feelings, and social trust. Moreover, we distinguished between two types of benefit perception: benefit for the climate and a secure energy supply. The model fitted very well to our data and explained acceptance very well. Acceptance was mainly influenced by perceived benefits for a secure energy supply and, to a lesser extent, both by perceived benefits for the climate and by risk perception. Affective feelings about nuclear power appeared to be a central factor in the model. Implications for communication about nuclear power stations and for further research are discussed.     

欧盟能源转型的路径及对我国的启示

欧盟在发展低碳经济的背景下通过制定具体且严格的温室气体减排和可再生能源发展目标,大力推广各种低碳能源技术的应用,积极倡导低碳化的能源转型。欧盟能源转型的理念和行动已成为各国制定能源政策的重要参考,并引领了当前全球能源转型的主流发展方向。本文在对欧盟各国能源转型战略进行梳理的基础上,归纳了各国能源转型的核心及关键措施,分析了欧盟低碳能源发展迅速的主要原因,并总结了欧盟能源转型对我国推进能源生产和消费革命的启示。