Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage - Public perception of CCS

CO₂ capture and storage is increasingly being considered as a serious option to mitigate climate change. Industry and governments, mostly in North Western Europe, have taken on the effort of realizing large scale CCS operations. Meanwhile, the option has started to attract the attention from the larger public as well sometimes leading to friction between project developers and the local public. Research indicates that public awareness of CCS is low and that people know little about the rationale for the technology, and the risks involved. ECN Policy Studies is involved in research to derive the most effective methods to both communicate CCS to the public, and also how to facilitate the participation of communities local to potential CCS projects in decision-making processes.

Recent projects

• Public engagement and CCS. IEA CCS Regulatory Network meeting, February 2011
• CO₂ Understanding
  Lay people’s understanding and perception of carbon dioxide and the implications of this for perceptions and acceptance of CCS.
• CATO-2 (2009-2013)
  This project is the Dutch national CCS programme. The project aims to realize two large scale CCS demonstration plants in the Netherlands by 2015. The consortium includes almost 40 partners, and the work packages that are intended to support the successful deployment of the demonstration plants, covering policy, legislation, technology development, safety and environmental impacts. ECN is coordinating Work Package 5.3, entitled ‘Trends in public opinions’, which aims to assess the general public’s awareness, knowledge and opinion of energy, environment and CCS. ECN has further been appointed as the deputy coordinator of Sub-Programme 5 Public Perception, coordinated by Leiden University.
• NEARCO2 (FP7) (2009-2011)
  NEARCO2 is an abbreviation of NEw pARticipation and communication strategies for neighbours of CO₂ capture and storage operations. Running from April 2009 to March 2011, the project aims to develop effective strategies to communicate to stakeholders and the public, the key aspects of CCS. Also, techniques to facilitate participation by lay-people in decision making within CCS projects will be developed. Sponsored by DG Research of the European Commission, ECN is the project coordinator.
• ‘Public Outreach Practices Associated with Large Scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Projects’ (2009 – 2010)
  It is essential to understand the role that public engagement and communication play in the success or failure of CCS projects and to establish best practices by which CCS project developers should engage. This project aims, first, to generate hands-on information based on real life cases experienced to date, and, second, to disseminate the insights to government officials, non-governmental organizations, and project developers. This project is funded by the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI). 
• CreateAcceptance (FP6) (2007-2010)
  Development of the ESTEEM tool for assessing and promoting the social acceptance of renewable energy technologies and technologies for a rational use of energy.
• ACCSEPT (FP6) (2006-2008)
  Social acceptance is imperative for a timely and responsible application of CCS. ECN participates in an international consortium that assessed public perceptions of CCS in an EU-wide survey among stakeholders. Gaps in existing socio-economic studies are identified and will be addressed

Related publications and presentations

• Public engagement and CCS. IEA CCS Regulatory Network meeting. February 2011
• Review of the public participation practices for CCS and non CCS projects in Europe. February 2010.
• Is CCS ready to roll? Reflections on social, economic, and regulatory requirements. December 2007.
• The acceptability of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) in Europe: An assessment of the key determining factors. November 2008.
• How the Dutch evaluate CCS options in comparison with other CO2 mitgation options. Results of nationwide Information-Choice Questionnaire survey. December 2008.
• Informed and uninformed public opinions on CO2 capture and storage technologies in The Netherlands. March 2009.
• Informed public opinion on CCS in comparison to other mitigation options. November 2008.
• Pseudo opinions. November 2009.

Contact person: Marjolein de Best-Waldhober