Understanding Social Values on Low Carbon sub surface technologies

The Energy Transition to Net Zero is a societal objective that influences markets, institutions and civil society. In June 2019, the UK parliament passed legislation requiring the reduction of UK's net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels by 2050 (CCC 2019).The transition to Net Zero has major ramifications for industry development, investment and innovation and is supported by a suite of new and emerging technologies.

Central to achieve Net Zero is the need to secure safe, efficient and cost-effective geological storage, or use, of carbon (CCUS). Models of future carbon emissions in the IPPC 2018 special report show that CCUS is required to meet carbon reduction targets. Carbon storage alongside hydrogen production and other subsurface technologies are key to achieving Net Zero targets (CCC2019) yet non-technical factors are equally, if not more, important for successful delivery. Societal acceptance is a significant factor in determining the success of subsurface technologies and a determinant of a social licence to operate, yet a major evidence gap exists on values at regional scales and specific to emerging technologies.

This project intends to map for the first time the level of public understanding and social acceptance of CCUS in two contrasting regions. We propose an examination of the NE of Scotland and Australia both developing strategies for energy transition to achieve Net Zero. Within these sites we propose to examine the social values on carbon capture and storage (CCUS), geological storage for energy and hydrogen production as low carbon technologies of regional interest at early stages of development. This PhD will address a knowledge gap in understanding i) the local context(s) and dynamics of proposed industrial and technological changes to achieve net zero; ii) how local context can influence the acceptability, direction and uptake of low carbon technologies; iii) how engagement strategies can be materially improved at a local scale and iv) what this means for improving the delivery of the national climate and energy goals in the home nations, the wider UK and international context.