Copernicus study: Power-to-X technologies are rated positively by the majority of respondents

(Bonn / Jülich) – Power-to-X (PtX) technologies can be used to produce green hydrogen, climate-friendly fuels and chemical raw materials, for example for the plastics and cosmetics industries, using renewable electricity. In order for such products to actually contribute to climate protection, they would have to be accepted by the population and bought - probably at higher prices. A representative study by the Copernicus project “P2X” shows that the majority of those surveyed rate the technology positively.

For the study, researchers from the Institute for Future Energy and Material Flow Systems (IZES) surveyed 1.123 people aged 16 to 25 and 1.134 people over 25 online about various aspects of Power-to-X. The people in both samples were selected based on their representativeness in terms of age, gender and geographical origin. The result: PtX technologies are generally supported and associated with positive properties. This applies throughout Germany and regardless of gender, according to a project report. Only eight percent of those surveyed were completely against it.

PtX technology needs to be explained

The approval rate among 16 to 25 year olds is 62 percent. 30 percent rate PtX technologies as partly positive. For those over 25, the rates are similarly high at 59 percent and 34 percent. The approval rates were even higher for the application of Power-to-X technologies in various areas:

• Transport sector: 71 percent approval among 16 to 25 year olds and 73 percent approval among those over 25 years old.
• Industrial sector: 73 percent approval among 16 to 25 year olds and 74 percent approval among those over 25 years old.
• Chemical sector: 67 percent approval among 16 to 25 year olds and 71 percent among those over 25 years old.

However, the study also shows that there is still a great need for information and communication. Many study participants were not aware of PtX technology before the survey (21 percent of 16 to 25 year olds and nine percent of those over 25 years old). In order to still be able to take part in the survey, all participants received a brief explanation of PtX technology at the beginning of the survey.

On the way to the third roadmap

In addition to acceptance in general, the researchers also examined certain connections. “The topics of environmental awareness and distributive justice particularly stand out here,” says Jan Hildebrand, head of the environmental psychology department at IZES. “The more the respondents see distributive justice as being fulfilled, i.e. the ratio of costs and benefits of Power-to-X technologies to be balanced, the higher the acceptance will be.” The costs included, for example, investments in the further expansion of renewables Energies. The benefit lies, among other things, in the independence from fossil fuels.

The results of the P2X survey form the basis “for in-depth acceptance analyzes in the form of interviews and focus groups currently taking place” as well as for a second representative survey in November 2021, according to the report. The results will be incorporated into the third roadmap of the Kopernikus project P2X, which is scheduled to be published in August.

The Copernicus Projects

The Copernicus projects are one of the largest German research initiatives on the topic of energy transition. Its goal is to provide a clean, safe and affordable electricity supply. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), they develop solutions to achieve climate goals. Representatives from business, science and society are involved.

deep link
https://www.kopernikus-projekte.de/aktuelles/news/p2x_ptx_wenig_bekannt_breit_akzeptiert_izes_2021
https://www.kopernikus-projekte.de/vision

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Presentation of the electricity/heat/mobility sector coupling in the energy system of the future from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which is also involved in Copernicus projects. DLR is active in all areas of hydrogen research and along the entire process chain from production to storage to use. / © DLR (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

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Overview of the most important results of the IZES acceptance research in the Copernicus project P2X 2021. © P2X/ IZES gGmbH