Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy Technologies in the Post-fukushima Era.

Eunil Park

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.612090

Abstract

In 2011, the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred, and this had a strong effect on public perceptions of energy facilities and services that relate not only to nuclear energy, but also renewable energy resources. Moreover, the accident has also considerably affected national energy plans in both developing and developed countries. In South Korea, several studies have been conducted since the accident to investigate public perspectives toward particular energy technologies; however, few studies have investigated public perceptions of renewable-energy technologies and tracked the transitions. Therefore, this study examines the trend of South Korean public’s perceptions of renewable-energy technologies. Based on data collected in 2016, we validated the structural connections and determined that trust, benefits, risks, and attitude were key determinants of the public’s desire to adopt these technologies; specifically, public attitude was found to be the greatest determinant of this desire. Based on the results, both implications and limitations are examined.

Highlights

In March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear power plant was struck by a huge tsunami caused by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake approximately 180 km east of Japan’s Tohoku region
Public desire to adopt renewable technologies was significantly determined by two factors, public attitude and perceived cost, while the effects of public attitude on the desire to adopt (H1, β = 0.821, CR = 81.712, p < 0.001) were greater than those of perceived cost (H8, β = −0.409, CR = −45.766, p < 0.001)
Based on the findings of a previously conducted study on the South Korean public’s perception of such technologies, this study re-examines the research model used in this previous study and investigates the effects of the employed antecedents on public attitude toward and desire to adopt renewable-energy technologies

Summary

Introduction

In March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear power plant was struck by a huge tsunami caused by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake approximately 180 km east of Japan’s Tohoku region. This seriously damaged the plant, resulting in three meltdowns. Public perception of alternative-energy sources is considered one of the most important factors influencing the investment allocated to related energy facilities and technologies within national energy plans. These perceptions are affected by events and accidents in other countries (Gamson and Modigliani, 1989; Verplanken, 1989). After the Fukushima accident caused significant public resistance toward nuclear energy, the majority of both developed and developing countries that were considering using nuclear energy as their main energy and electricity supply

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