ASSIGNMENT
Sustainable energy technology projects, while beneficial for combatting climate change, often face resistance from people living nearby. For example, projects on capture and underground storage of CO2, wind parks or geothermal energy often face resistance, leading to delays or cancelations in projects. People may have various reasons such as finding the risks unacceptable, the technology not sufficiently proven, the decision making unfair, distrust in the persons responsible, etc.
In this project, you will examine the Technology Acceptance Framework (Huijts et al., 2012), review the literature that has since been published on the topic, and propose updates for the framework and important avenues for further research. You will discuss your work with colleagues and other interested parties, and will learn a lot about how to realise more acceptable sustainable energy technology projects. You can also be involved in other activities of the department related to psychology and sustainability.
KEYWORDS
Sustainability; technology acceptance; risk perception; fairness; trust.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ORGANIZATION
The section Psychology of Conflict, Risk and Safety at the University of Twente has a distinctive and unique profile in the areas of risk perception and risk communication, conflict and crisis management and the antecedents of risky, antisocial and criminal behaviour. It currently includes 16 research staff members and 8 PhD students. We work from both a psychology and an engineering perspective and cooperate with other scientific disciplines, based on the “high tech, human touch” profile of the University of Twente.
AVAILABILITY
This internship is open for 1 student.
INTERESTED?
Please contact the PCRS internship coordinator Miriam Oostinga (m.s.d.oostinga@utwente.nl).
LITERATURE
- Bal, M., Stok, M., Bombaerts, G., Huijts, N., Schneider, P., Spahn, A., & Buskens, V. (2023). A fairway to fairness: Toward a richer conceptualization of fairness perceptions for just energy transitions. Energy Research and Social Science, 103, Article 103213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103213
- Huijts, N. M. A., Molin, E. J. E., & Steg, L. (2012). Psychological factors influencing sustainable energy technology acceptance: A review-based comprehensive framework. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(1), 525–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.08.018
- L’Orange Seigo, S., Dohle, S., & Siegrist, M. (2014). Public perception of carbon capture and storage (CCS): A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 38, 848–863.