In the present study, we studied the acceptance of CO2-based fuels for aviation as a product manufactured using Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU). CCU can be regarded as the cornerstone for a circular approach. We focused on understanding whether the evaluation of CCU as a production method is related to the social acceptance of the resulting product. We applied an empirical quantitative approach using an online questionnaire targeted at German, Spanish, Dutch, and Norwegian respondents (N = 2,187). For both CCU and the fuel, lay perceptions in terms of perceived benefits and barriers were assessed, as well as their affective evaluation. Additionally, the acceptance of the end-product was surveyed. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we gained a better understanding of how the acceptance of CO2-based fuels for aviation is formed. We found that the evaluation of CCU was mainly indirectly related to the acceptance of the product through relationships with the evaluation of the fuels. The perception of the benefits of CCU did affect the benefit perception of CO2-based fuels the most, followed closely by the affective evaluation of the fuels. For the perception of the barriers of CO2-based fuels, the perceived barriers of CCU were again the strongest predictor, followed by the affective evaluation of the fuels. We identified a moderate predictive power for the acceptance of CO2-based fuels. The relationship with the perceived benefits of the fuels was the most relevant, followed by barrier perceptions, the affective evaluation of the fuels, and finally the benefit perception of CCU. Overall, the findings yield first insights into the role of the evaluation of CCU and CO2-based fuels for aviation for the formation of the product’s acceptance. The outcomes are useful for informing the product’s and CCU’s technical development and policy making. Additionally, they aid in the design of public information about CCU and support the development of sensible communication strategies for the successful market roll-out of CCU and CO2-based fuels.
The negative consequence of increased greenhouse gas emissions have incited research to focus on developing sustainable technologies to reduce the use of fossil raw material. Carbon Capture and Utilization is such a technology. It reuses captured CO2 as raw material for the production of salable products. Beyond their technical and economic feasibility, the acceptance of these products is vital for the successful roll-out of the technology. The two-step empirical study—a qualitative preliminary study (n = 8 experts, n = 16 laypeople) and a quantitative survey study (N = 643)—described in the present paper focused on the acceptance of insulation boards produced by means of CCU by its potential Dutch and German consumers. The study aimed to quantify the level of public acceptance of the product, to identify perceived (dis)advantages, and to pinpoint the drivers behind the acceptance. In the survey, respondents evaluated cognitive and affective acceptance factors, as well as the acceptance of the use of plastic in the product. The results showed that the respondents had little knowledge on CCU, but that CCU insulation boards were nevertheless accepted rather than rejected, with the benefit perception being the common predictor for the three acceptance measures. Public communication and policy should address the product’s (environmental) benefits and foster an increase in the public awareness of the technology.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.