Abstract
Exploring Mental Models of Geothermal Energy among Laypeople in Germany as Hidden Drivers for Acceptance
Highlights
Playing a marginal role among the renewable energies in Germany so far, geothermal energy projects continue to be installed in various regions of Germany, mostly along the North German Basin, the Molasse Basin (Southern Germany), or along the Upper Rhine Graben [1]
The study verifies that assessing mental models can be valuable in early phases of understanding public acceptance, as acceptance-relevant criteria and topics to be addressed can be identified in order to adequately respond to people’s concerns
The word associations are analysed followed by the colour associations
Summary
Playing a marginal role among the renewable energies in Germany so far, geothermal energy projects continue to be installed in various regions of Germany, mostly along the North German Basin, the Molasse Basin (Southern Germany), or along the Upper Rhine Graben [1]. A variety of studies uncovering mental models in relation to acceptance of energy-related technologies [19], Carbon (dioxide) Capture and Storage (CCS) [20] and climate change [21] have been conducted which found evidence for the close connection between acceptance and the willingness to adopt a technology on the one hand and positive or negative connotations within mental models on the other hand They validated the elicitation of mental models from laypeople as a suitable method to identify misconceptions and topics needing to be addressed in (risk) communication concepts. Data were collected using a pen-and-paper questionnaire (see Appendix) It contained a section on user characteristics (not discussed in detail in this paper), as well as questions on acceptance of geothermal energy and related mental models. Colour associations were asked for to provide insights for the design of information material on geothermal energy, as the use of primarily associated colours could support the communication of technical information to laypersons
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