Towards a Low-Carbon Society via Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage: Social Acceptance from a Stakeholder Perspective

Transformation concepts towards a low-carbon society often require new technology and infrastructure that evoke protests in the population. Therefore, it is crucial to understand positions and conflicts in society to achieve social acceptance. This paper analyses these positions using the example of...

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Main Authors: Sabrina Glanz, Anna-Lena Schönauer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SDEWES Centre 2021-03-01
Series:Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
Subjects:
Online Access: http://www.sdewes.org/jsdewes/pid8.0322
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spelling doaj-ff01983a74524c108a04c9a6a5aab0482020-11-25T02:44:52ZengSDEWES CentreJournal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems1848-92572021-03-01910010.13044/j.sdewes.d8.03221080322Towards a Low-Carbon Society via Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage: Social Acceptance from a Stakeholder PerspectiveSabrina Glanz0Anna-Lena Schönauer1 Chair of Sociology, Labour and Economy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany Chair of Sociology, Labour and Economy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany Transformation concepts towards a low-carbon society often require new technology and infrastructure that evoke protests in the population. Therefore, it is crucial to understand positions and conflicts in society to achieve social acceptance. This paper analyses these positions using the example of implementing hydrogen and carbon capture and storage infrastructure to decarbonise the German energy system. The empirical basis of the study are explorative stakeholder interviews which were conducted with experts from politics, economics, civil society and science and analysed within a discursive and attitudinal framework using qualitative content analysis. These stakeholder positions are assumed to represent dominant social perceptions and reflect chances and risks for acceptance. The results indicate different positions while pursuing the common goal of addressing climate change. The general conflict concerns strategies towards a low-carbon society, especially the speed of phasing-out fossil energies. Regarding the combination of hydrogen and carbon capture and storage as instrument in the context of the energy transition, the stakeholder interviews indicate controversial as well as consensual perceptions. The assessments range from rejection to deeming it absolutely necessary. Controversial argumentations refer to security of supply, competitiveness and environmental protection. In contrast, consensus can be reached by balancing ecological and economic arguments, e.g. by linking hydrogen technologies with renewable and fossil energy sources or by limiting the use of carbon capture and storage only to certain applications (industry, bioenergy). In further decisions, this balancing of arguments combined with openness of technology, transparency of information and citizen participation need to be considered to achieve broad acceptance. http://www.sdewes.org/jsdewes/pid8.0322 energy transitiondiscoursesattitudinal research conceptgermany.
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Sabrina Glanz
Anna-Lena Schönauer
spellingShingle Sabrina Glanz
Anna-Lena Schönauer
Towards a Low-Carbon Society via Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage: Social Acceptance from a Stakeholder Perspective
Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
energy transition
discourses
attitudinal research concept
germany.
author_facet Sabrina Glanz
Anna-Lena Schönauer
author_sort Sabrina Glanz
title Towards a Low-Carbon Society via Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage: Social Acceptance from a Stakeholder Perspective
title_short Towards a Low-Carbon Society via Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage: Social Acceptance from a Stakeholder Perspective
title_full Towards a Low-Carbon Society via Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage: Social Acceptance from a Stakeholder Perspective
title_fullStr Towards a Low-Carbon Society via Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage: Social Acceptance from a Stakeholder Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Towards a Low-Carbon Society via Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage: Social Acceptance from a Stakeholder Perspective
title_sort towards a low-carbon society via hydrogen and carbon capture and storage: social acceptance from a stakeholder perspective
publisher SDEWES Centre
series Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
issn 1848-9257
publishDate 2021-03-01
description Transformation concepts towards a low-carbon society often require new technology and infrastructure that evoke protests in the population. Therefore, it is crucial to understand positions and conflicts in society to achieve social acceptance. This paper analyses these positions using the example of implementing hydrogen and carbon capture and storage infrastructure to decarbonise the German energy system. The empirical basis of the study are explorative stakeholder interviews which were conducted with experts from politics, economics, civil society and science and analysed within a discursive and attitudinal framework using qualitative content analysis. These stakeholder positions are assumed to represent dominant social perceptions and reflect chances and risks for acceptance. The results indicate different positions while pursuing the common goal of addressing climate change. The general conflict concerns strategies towards a low-carbon society, especially the speed of phasing-out fossil energies. Regarding the combination of hydrogen and carbon capture and storage as instrument in the context of the energy transition, the stakeholder interviews indicate controversial as well as consensual perceptions. The assessments range from rejection to deeming it absolutely necessary. Controversial argumentations refer to security of supply, competitiveness and environmental protection. In contrast, consensus can be reached by balancing ecological and economic arguments, e.g. by linking hydrogen technologies with renewable and fossil energy sources or by limiting the use of carbon capture and storage only to certain applications (industry, bioenergy). In further decisions, this balancing of arguments combined with openness of technology, transparency of information and citizen participation need to be considered to achieve broad acceptance.
topic energy transition
discourses
attitudinal research concept
germany.
url http://www.sdewes.org/jsdewes/pid8.0322
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