TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring acceptance of decentralised energy storage at household and neighbourhood scales: A UK survey

AU - Ambrosio-Albala, P.

AU - Upham, Paul

AU - Bale, C. S.E.

AU - Taylor, P. G.

N1 - This study was funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) through the SUPERGEN Energy Storage Challenge Project Consortium for Modelling and Analysis of Decentralised Energy Storage (C-MADEnS), EPSRC reference EP/N001745/1 . Appendix A

PY - 2020/3/1

Y1 - 2020/3/1

N2 - Effective deployment of Distributed Energy Storage (DES) will depend in part on public attitudes and acceptance at both community and household levels. Here, we present the results of an exploratory survey to understand prospective public acceptance of DES technologies at household and community level in the UK (N = 949). The research design draws on previous qualitative technology acceptance work that was undertaken to inform the survey. We show that while the level of awareness of DES among the UK public is still very low, initial evaluation of information on domestic and neighbourhood battery storage is positive and evokes positive feelings that are significant predictors of positive attitudes. Moreover, the UK public has strong expectations about the technology, its benefits and its management. In particular, the results point to a bounded and place-based role for altruism: that people are more likely to accept energy storage facilities in their neighbourhood if they are for the benefit of that same neighbourhood. The results help us to understand public expectations of the technologies and the institutions relevant to decentralised energy design and deployment by commercial and public sector actors, as well as having implications for policy design and communication strategies.

AB - Effective deployment of Distributed Energy Storage (DES) will depend in part on public attitudes and acceptance at both community and household levels. Here, we present the results of an exploratory survey to understand prospective public acceptance of DES technologies at household and community level in the UK (N = 949). The research design draws on previous qualitative technology acceptance work that was undertaken to inform the survey. We show that while the level of awareness of DES among the UK public is still very low, initial evaluation of information on domestic and neighbourhood battery storage is positive and evokes positive feelings that are significant predictors of positive attitudes. Moreover, the UK public has strong expectations about the technology, its benefits and its management. In particular, the results point to a bounded and place-based role for altruism: that people are more likely to accept energy storage facilities in their neighbourhood if they are for the benefit of that same neighbourhood. The results help us to understand public expectations of the technologies and the institutions relevant to decentralised energy design and deployment by commercial and public sector actors, as well as having implications for policy design and communication strategies.

KW - Battery storage

KW - Community energy storage

KW - Emotions

KW - Expectations

KW - Public perceptions

KW - Survey

KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication

KW - Business psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85077168137&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111194

DO - 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111194

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85077168137

VL - 138

JO - Energy Policy

JF - Energy Policy

SN - 0301-4215

M1 - 111194

ER -