Perception Spillover From Fracking, 2022

Public opposition to new energy technology can harm the chances of successful deployment. Less is known about knock-on effects on the wider energy system, including whether such opposition impacts public perceptions of other technologies. Here we present a mixed-methods study into ‘perception spillover’, examining whether the controversy over fracking for oil and gas affects public attitudes to two novel low-carbon energy technologies: deep ‘enhanced’ geothermal systems, and ‘green’ hydrogen. We argue that perception spillover is multi-faceted, and we conceptualise and test spontaneous, prompted and primed forms, examining how and why particular types occur. Using a nationally-representative UK survey and 2 focus groups, we show that perception spillover from fracking could lead to widespread negative perceptions of deep geothermal energy, influencing the conditions which deep geothermal would be expected to meet. Conversely, a minority of participants expressed more positive perceptions of green hydrogen because they deemed it dissimilar to fracking.

Flexible fund project under the UK Unconventional Hydrocarbons project. Aims to understand the impact of fracking on public perceptions of other energy technologies.

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