{"title":"Understanding the latent needs of diverse stakeholders unfamiliar with geothermal energy","authors":"Hanae Saishu, Momo Takada, Tetsuo Yasutaka, Nobukazu Soma","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2024.103154","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Understanding stakeholders’ needs is crucial for promoting geothermal energy usage and gaining social acceptance. While local people are the key stakeholders in many geothermal projects, other groups have the potential to become directly or indirectly involved, even if they are initially unfamiliar with geothermal power generation. Variability in respondents’ knowledge and the uncertain and biased information associated with geothermal energy make it difficult to extract stakeholders’ needs when formulating a communication strategy. To evaluate stakeholders’ latent needs without providing respondents with detailed information of geothermal energy, this study develops a survey method using conjoint analysis. A web-based questionnaire survey conducted in Japan asked respondents to rank their preferences among seven power generation methods and various electricity supply conditions, which provided the factors necessary to evaluate the latent needs relating to each type of power generation. Subject knowledge is found to be lower for geothermal power generation than for the other power generation methods, although geothermal energy performs well in terms of both expressed and latent needs. Obvious differences in relative preferences among the other power generation methods are also revealed. The proposed method supports both local and outside stakeholders in identifying the various effects of geothermal projects and expressing their needs without undue burden. It is hoped that this approach will encourage stakeholders to understand each other, discuss which advantages/disadvantages of geothermal projects they can accept, and design a sustainable society that incorporates geothermal energy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 103154"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0375650524002402/pdfft?md5=413910ce3e3b4e36cd4ddc87358d185d&pid=1-s2.0-S0375650524002402-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Geothermics","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0375650524002402","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Understanding stakeholders’ needs is crucial for promoting geothermal energy usage and gaining social acceptance. While local people are the key stakeholders in many geothermal projects, other groups have the potential to become directly or indirectly involved, even if they are initially unfamiliar with geothermal power generation. Variability in respondents’ knowledge and the uncertain and biased information associated with geothermal energy make it difficult to extract stakeholders’ needs when formulating a communication strategy. To evaluate stakeholders’ latent needs without providing respondents with detailed information of geothermal energy, this study develops a survey method using conjoint analysis. A web-based questionnaire survey conducted in Japan asked respondents to rank their preferences among seven power generation methods and various electricity supply conditions, which provided the factors necessary to evaluate the latent needs relating to each type of power generation. Subject knowledge is found to be lower for geothermal power generation than for the other power generation methods, although geothermal energy performs well in terms of both expressed and latent needs. Obvious differences in relative preferences among the other power generation methods are also revealed. The proposed method supports both local and outside stakeholders in identifying the various effects of geothermal projects and expressing their needs without undue burden. It is hoped that this approach will encourage stakeholders to understand each other, discuss which advantages/disadvantages of geothermal projects they can accept, and design a sustainable society that incorporates geothermal energy.
期刊介绍:
Geothermics is an international journal devoted to the research and development of geothermal energy. The International Board of Editors of Geothermics, which comprises specialists in the various aspects of geothermal resources, exploration and development, guarantees the balanced, comprehensive view of scientific and technological developments in this promising energy field.
It promulgates the state of the art and science of geothermal energy, its exploration and exploitation through a regular exchange of information from all parts of the world. The journal publishes articles dealing with the theory, exploration techniques and all aspects of the utilization of geothermal resources. Geothermics serves as the scientific house, or exchange medium, through which the growing community of geothermal specialists can provide and receive information.