Abstract
BackgroundConcern about the inevitable depletion of global energy resources is rising and many countries are shifting their focus to renewable energy. Biodiesel is one promising energy source that has garnered much public attention in recent years. Many believe that this alternative source of energy will be able to sustain the need for increased energy security while at the same time being friendly to the environment. Public opinion, as well as proactive measures by key players in industry, may play a decisive role in steering the direction of biodiesel development throughout the world. Past studies have suggested that public acceptance of biofuels could be shaped by critical consideration of the risk–benefit perceptions of the product, in addition to the impact on the economy and environment.ResultsThe purpose of this study was to identify the relevant factors influencing stakeholders’ attitudes towards biodiesel derived from crops such as palm oil for vehicle use, as well as to analyse the interrelationships of these factors in an attitude model. A survey of 509 respondents, consisting of various stakeholder groups in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia, was undertaken. The results of the study have substantiated the premise that the most important direct predictor of attitude to biodiesel is the perceived benefits (β = 0.80, p < 0.001). Attitude towards biodiesel also involves the interplay between other factors, such as engagement to biotechnology, trust of key players, attitude to technology, and perceived risk.ConclusionAlthough perceived benefit has emerged as the main predictor of public support of biodiesel, the existence of other significant interactions among variables leads to the conclusion that public attitude towards biodiesel should be seen as a multi-faceted process and should be strongly considered prior to its commercialisation.
Highlights
Concern about the inevitable depletion of global energy resources is rising and many countries are shifting their focus to renewable energy
Stakeholders in the Klang Valley region had a moderate mean score for all variables except for attitude towards biodiesel which exhibited a higher mean score (Table 3). Both perceived benefits and perceived risks were categorised as moderate, the Malaysian stakeholders have seen more benefits of biodiesel, whereas they have seen lower risks and issues of food security associated with biodiesel (Table 3)
Structural equation modelling has confirmed that the Malaysian stakeholders’ attitudes towards the use of biodiesel derived from crops, such as palm oil, as biofuel for vehicles is a complex matter which should be seen as a multi-faceted process
Summary
Concern about the inevitable depletion of global energy resources is rising and many countries are shifting their focus to renewable energy. Biodiesel is one promising energy source that has garnered much public attention in recent years. The second-generation biofuels, which are derived from plant dry matter or lignocellulose, may not impact food security directly, but seed crops may compete for fertile land with food crops. The third-generation biofuels, which are derived from algae, may not pose any social and economic risks, unlike the first and second-generation biofuels, but pose a risk to the environment. The technology related to the fourth generation of biofuel seems the most promising is still at the level of basic research These tangible and intangible effects of different generations of biofuels should be taken into account by stakeholders before they venture into the industry
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