Browsing by Author "Gordon, Joel A."

Now showing 1 - 13 of 13
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    Barriers to powering past coal: implications for a just energy transition in South Africa
    (Elsevier, 2023-05-25) Mirzania, Pegah; Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Sayan, Ramazan Caner; Marais, Lochner
    The feasibility of South Africa's just energy transition, as dictated by the speed of phasing out coal and scaling up renewables, will rest on a range of techno-economic, socio-political, and socio-technical factors. Interactions between these dimensions of the transition carry significant implications for energy justice. In response, this paper proposes the Just Transition Feasibility Framework (JTFF) to better evaluate how feasibility constraints may impact South Africa's energy transition ambitions, and its more recent commitments to energy justice. Drawing on qualitative findings from interviews with South African energy experts, the study provides critical insights on the national- and community-scale implications of current energy policies. The analysis highlights socio-political constraints related to the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme (REI4P) which aggravate energy vulnerabilities and misrecognition of places. In addition to strategically tackling a range of techno-economic and socio-technical constraints which are seen to exacerbate distributive injustice, the South African government should extend the 50 km radius scheme of the REI4P to a wider and more inclusive regional basis. Foremost, policy interventions must seek to realign South Africa's Minerals Energy Complex towards a just transition pathway committed to renewable electrification, community empowerment, and sustainable socio-economic structures.
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    Beyond the triangle of renewable energy acceptance: The five dimensions of domestic hydrogen acceptance
    (Elsevier, 2022-08-07) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    The ‘deep’ decarbonization of the residential sector is a priority for meeting national climate change targets, especially in countries such as the UK where natural gas has been the dominant fuel source for over half a century. Hydrogen blending and repurposing the national grid to supply low-carbon hydrogen gas may offer respective short- and long-term solutions to achieving emissions reduction across parts of the housing sector. Despite this imperative, the social acceptance of domestic hydrogen energy technologies remains underexplored by sustainability scholars, with limited insights regarding consumer perceptions and expectations of the transition. A knowledge deficit of this magnitude is likely to hinder effective policymaking and may result in sub-optimal rollout strategies that derail the trajectory of the net zero agenda. Addressing this knowledge gap, this study develops a conceptual framework for examining the consumer-facing side of the hydrogen transition. The paper affirms that the spatiotemporal patterns of renewable energy adoption are shaped by a range of interacting scales, dimensions, and factors. The UK’s emerging hydrogen landscape and its actor-network is characterized as a heterogenous system, composed of dynamic relationships and interdependencies. Future studies should engage with domestic hydrogen acceptance as a co-evolving, multi-scalar phenomenon rooted in the interplay of five distinct dimensions: attitudinal, sociopolitical, community, market, and behavioral acceptance. If arrived to, behavioral acceptance helps realize the domestication of hydrogen heating and cooking, established on grounds on cognitive, sociopolitical, and sociocultural legitimacy. The research community should internalize the complexity and richness of consumer attitudes and responses, through a more critical and reflexive approach to the study of social acceptance.
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    Coupling green hydrogen production to community benefits: a pathway to social acceptance?
    (Elsevier, 2024-02-23) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Haq, Anwar; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    Hydrogen energy technologies are forecasted to play a critical supporting role in global decarbonisation efforts, as reflected by the growth of national hydrogen energy strategies in recent years. Notably, the UK government published its Hydrogen Strategy in August 2021 to support decarbonisation targets and energy security ambitions. While establishing techno-economic feasibility for hydrogen energy systems is a prerequisite of the prospective transition, social acceptability is also needed to support visions for the ‘hydrogen economy’. However, to date, societal factors are yet to be embedded into policy prescriptions. Securing social acceptance is especially critical in the context of ‘hydrogen homes’, which entails replacing natural gas boilers and hobs with low-carbon hydrogen appliances. Reflecting the nascency of hydrogen heating and cooking technologies, the dynamics of social acceptance are yet to be explored in a comprehensive way. Similarly, public perceptions of the hydrogen economy and emerging national strategies remain poorly understood. Given the paucity of conceptual and empirical insights, this study develops an integrated acceptance framework and tests its predictive power using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Results highlight the importance of risk perceptions, trust dynamics, and emotions in shaping consumer perceptions. Foremost, prospects for deploying hydrogen homes at scale may rest with coupling renewable-based hydrogen production to local environmental and socio-economic benefits. Policy prescriptions should embed societal factors into the technological pursuit of large-scale, sustainable energy solutions to support socially acceptable transition pathways.
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    Divergent consumer preferences and visions for cooking and heating technologies in the United Kingdom: make our homes clean, safe, warm and smart!
    (Elsevier, 2023-08-12) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    Decarbonising the global housing stock is imperative for reaching climate change targets. In the United Kingdom, hydrogen is currently being tested as a replacement fuel for natural gas, which could be used to supply low-carbon energy to parts of the country. Transitioning the residential sector towards a net-zero future will call for an inclusive understanding of consumer preferences for emerging technologies. In response, this paper explores consumer attitudes towards domestic cooking and heating technologies, and energy appliances of the future, which could include a role for hydrogen hobs and boilers in UK homes. To access qualitative evidence on this topic, we conducted ten online focus groups (N = 58) with members of the UK public between February and April 2022. The study finds that existing gas users wish to preserve the best features of gas cooking, such as speed, responsiveness and controllability, but also desire the potential safety and aesthetic benefits of electric systems, principally induction hobs. Meanwhile, future heating systems should ensure thermal comfort, ease of use, energy efficiency and smart performance, while providing space savings and noise reduction, alongside demonstrable green benefits. Mixed-methods multigroup analysis suggests divergence between support levels for hydrogen homes, which implies a degree of consumer heterogeneity. Foremost, we find that domestic hydrogen acceptance is positively associated with interest and engagement with renewable energy and fuel poverty pressures. We conclude that internalising the perspectives of consumers is critical to enabling constructive socio-technical imaginaries for low-carbon domestic energy futures.
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    Exploring the contours of consumer heterogeneity: towards a typology of domestic hydrogen acceptance
    (Elsevier, 2024-01-11) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    Hydrogen energy technologies are anticipated to play a fundamental role in securing a decarbonised energy future. While the deployment of low-carbon hydrogen energy systems remains nascent and is subject to a range of techno-economic constraints, potential scalability will also hinge on social acceptance. In response, this study draws on extensive national survey data to derive a comprehensive typology of domestic acceptance, which reflects multiple factors influencing consumer attitudes towards low-carbon hydrogen heating and cooking appliances. The proposed typology is developed through rigorous coding of over 1000 qualitative statements, leading to 12 core acceptance factors composed of a mix of positive, neutral, and negative sub-factors. The study finds that eight primary sub-factors account for close to 60 % of identified codes, with knowledge deficit (negative), environmental benefits (positive), and financial risks (negative) ranking highest. Critically, these three sub-factors are also the most statistically significant predictors of consumer heterogeneity. At the sub-group level, the analysis shows that engagement with renewable energy technology and climate change is associated with stronger perceptions of environmental benefits and lower financial concerns. By contrast, perceived financial risks and concerns over energy injustice constrain acceptance levels among fuel stressed respondents. Through mixed-methods analysis, the study transmits the value of advancing acceptance typologies as a critical mechanism for enacting a ‘just’ hydrogen economy. The analysis supports developing strategic measures which account for consumer heterogeneity to better support socially acceptable pathways for residential decarbonisation.
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    Gauging public perceptions of blue and green hydrogen futures: is the twin-track approach compatible with hydrogen acceptance?
    (Elsevier, 2023-07-14) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    National hydrogen strategies are emerging as a critical pillar of climate change policy. For homes connected to the gas grid, hydrogen may offer an alternative decarbonisation pathway to electrification. Hydrogen production pathways in countries such as the UK will involve both the gas network and the electricity grid, with related policy choices and investment decisions impacting the potential configuration of consumer acceptance for hydrogen homes. Despite the risk of public resistance, be it on environmental, economic, or social grounds, few studies have explored the emerging contours of domestic hydrogen acceptance. To date, there is scarce evidence on public perceptions of national hydrogen policy and the extent to which attitudes may be rooted in prior knowledge and awareness, or open to change following information provision and engagement. In response, this study evaluates consumer preferences for a low-carbon energy future, wherein parts of the UK housing stock may adopt low-carbon hydrogen boilers and hobs. Drawing on data from online focus groups, we examine consumer perceptions of the government's twin-track approach, which envisions important roles for both ‘blue’ and ‘green’ hydrogen to meet net zero ambitions. Through a mixed-methods, multigroup analysis, the underlying motivation is to explore whether the twin-track approach appears compatible with hydrogen acceptance. Moving forward, hydrogen policy should ensure greater transparency concerning the benefits, costs, and risks of the transition, with clearer communication about the justification for supporting respective hydrogen production pathways.
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    Heterogeneous preferences for living in a hydrogen home: an advanced multigroup analysis
    (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024-05-14) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Haq, Anwar Ul; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    The UK Hydrogen Strategy (August 2021) and subsequent Heat and Buildings Strategy (October 2021) affirm that a strategic decision is set to be taken by 2026 on the prospect of residential decarbonisation via ‘hydrogen homes’. As this decision date draws nearer, quantitative insights on consumer perceptions of hydrogen-fuelled heating and cooking appliances remain limited. The existing knowledge deficit presents a substantial barrier to implementing a socially acceptable deployment pathway for residential decarbonisation. Despite recent efforts to advance the social science research agenda on hydrogen acceptance, few studies have advanced theoretical knowledge or pursued comprehensive statistical analyses. This study responds to the extant research gap by analysing the perceived adoption potential for hydrogen homes via partial least squares-necessary condition-multigroup analysis. Drawing on data from a nationally representative online survey (N = 1845) conducted in the UK, the adoption dynamics for domestic hydrogen are compared across four sub-groups of the population. The findings suggest that non-economic constructs such as safety perceptions and production perceptions are potentially more influential at this stage of the domestic hydrogen transition. Differences between consumer sub-groups are explained by safety, technology, and production perceptions, whereas financial perceptions are relatively homogeneous across the segments. These patterns underline the opportunity to strengthen residential decarbonisation efforts through segment-specific polices and strategic engagement with different parts of the housing stock. Policy makers and key stakeholders should factor consumer heterogeneity into net-zero decision-making processes by firstly acknowledging the amplifying effect of technology and environmental engagement in supporting adoption prospects for hydrogen homes. Socially acceptable strategies for decarbonising the residential sector can be supported by actively responding to heterogeneous household preferences for living in a hydrogen home.
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    Homes of the future: unpacking public perceptions to power the domestic hydrogen transition
    (Elsevier, 2022-05-20) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    Decarbonization in several countries is now linked to the prospect of implementing a national hydrogen economy. In countries with extensive natural gas infrastructure, hydrogen may provide a real opportunity to decarbonize space heating. While this approach may prove technically and economically feasible in the long-term, it is unclear whether consumers will be willing to adopt hydrogen-fueled appliances for heating and cooking should techno-economic feasibility be achieved. In response, this paper develops an analytical framework for examining hydrogen acceptance which links together socio-technical barriers and social acceptance factors. Applying this framework, the study synthesizes the existing knowledge on public perceptions of hydrogen and identifies critical knowledge gaps which should be addressed to support domestic hydrogen acceptance. The paper demonstrates that a future research agenda should account for the interactions between acceptance factors at the attitudinal, socio-political, market, community, and behavioral level. The analysis concludes that hydrogen is yet to permeate the public consciousness due to a lack of knowledge and awareness, owing to an absence of information dissemination. In response, consumer engagement in energy markets and stronger public trust in key stakeholders will help support social acceptance as the hydrogen transition unfolds. Affordability may prove the most critical barrier to the large-scale adoption of hydrogen homes, while the disruptive impacts of the switchover and distributional injustice represent key concerns. As a starting point, the promise of economic, environmental, and community benefits must be communicated and fulfilled to endorse the value of hydrogen homes.
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    Hopes and fears for a sustainable energy future: enter the hydrogen acceptance matrix
    (Elsevier, 2024-02-26) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    Hydrogen-fuelled technologies for home heating and cooking may provide a low-carbon solution for decarbonising parts of the global housing stock. For the transition to transpire, the attitudes and perceptions of consumers must be factored into policy making efforts. However, empirical studies are yet to explore potential levels of consumer heterogeneity regarding domestic hydrogen acceptance. In response, this study explores a wide spectrum of consumer responses towards the prospect of hydrogen homes. The proposed spectrum is conceptualised in terms of the ‘domestic hydrogen acceptance matrix’, which is examined through a nationally representative online survey conducted in the United Kingdom. The results draw attention to the importance of interest and engagement in environmental issues, knowledge and awareness of renewable energy technologies, and early adoption potential, as key drivers of domestic hydrogen acceptance. Critically, strategic measures should be taken to convert hydrogen scepticism and pessimism into hope and optimism by recognising the multi-dimensional nature of consumer acceptance. To this end, resources should be dedicated towards increasing the observability and trialability of hydrogen homes in proximity to industrial clusters and hubs, where the stakes for consumer acceptance are highest. Progress towards realising a net-zero society can be supported by early stakeholder engagement with the domestic hydrogen acceptance matrix.
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    Necessary and sufficient conditions for deploying hydrogen homes: a consumer-oriented perspective
    (Elsevier, 2024-05-13) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Haq, Anwar; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    As part of its efforts to secure a ‘net-zero society’, the UK government will take a strategic decision on the role of hydrogen in decarbonising homes within the next years. While scholars have recently advanced the social science research agenda on hydrogen technology acceptance, studies are yet to engage with the prospective dynamics of adopting ‘hydrogen homes’. In response, this study examines the perceived adoption potential of hydrogen heating and cooking technologies, as evaluated through the eyes of consumer. Engaging with behavioural and market acceptance, this research draws on data from a broadly nationally representative online survey to examine the influence of safety, technological, economic, environmental, and emotional factors on the domestic hydrogen transition in the UK context. The analysis follows a multi-stage empirical approach, integrating findings from partial least squares structural equation and necessary condition analysis to crystallise insights on this emergent subject. At this juncture, perceived adoption potential may hinge primarily on emotional, environmental, safety, and to a lesser extent, technological perspectives. However, consumers have an expressed preference for hydrogen heating over hydrogen cooking, with perceived boiler performance emerging as a necessary condition for enabling adoption potential. At the formative phase of the transition, risks associated with energy insecurity and fuel poverty exceed concerns over purchasing and running costs. Nevertheless, economic factors remain less critical during the pre-deployment phase of the innovation-decision process. Across the full sample, simple slope analysis highlights the moderating effects of gender, age, and housing tenure. Moreover, statistically significant differences from both a sufficiency- and necessity-based perspective are detected between male property owners aged 55+ and female mortgage owners 18–34 years old. By bridging the knowledge gap between social acceptance and adoption intention, this contribution reinforces the need for consumer engagement in the hydrogen economy, advocating for more fine-grained, mixed-methods analyses of technology acceptance dynamics to support decarbonisation strategies.
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    Price promises, trust deficits and energy justice: public perceptions of hydrogen homes
    (Elsevier, 2023-10-12) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    In an era characterised by political instability, economic uncertainty and mounting environmental pressures, hydrogen fuel is being positioned as a critical piece of the global energy security and clean energy agenda. The policy push is noteworthy in the United Kingdom, where the government is targeting industrial decarbonisation via hydrogen, while exploring a potential role for hydrogen-fuelled home appliances. Despite the imperative to secure social acceptance for accelerating the diffusion of low-carbon energy technologies, public perceptions of hydrogen homes remain largely underexplored by the researcher community. In response, this analysis draws on extensive focus group data to understand the multi-dimensional nature of social acceptance in the context of the domestic hydrogen transition. Through an integrated, mixed-methods multigroup analysis, the study demonstrates that socio-political and market acceptance are strongly interlinked, owing to a trust deficit in the government and energy industry, coupled to underlying dissatisfaction with energy markets. At the community level, hydrogen homes are perceived as a potentially positive mechanism for industrial regeneration and local economic development. Households consider short-term disruptive impacts to be tolerable, provided temporary disconnection from the gas grid does not exceed three days. However, to strengthen social acceptance, clearer communication is needed regarding the spatial dynamics and equity implications of the transition. The analysis concludes that existing trust deficits will need to be overcome, which entails fulfilling not only a ‘price promise’ on the cost of hydrogen appliances, but also enacting a ‘price pledge' on energy bills. These deliverables are fundamental to securing social acceptance for hydrogen homes.
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    Socio-technical barriers to domestic hydrogen futures: repurposing pipelines, policies, and public perceptions
    (Elsevier, 2023-02-22) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    The feasibility of the global energy transition may rest on the ability of nations to harness hydrogen's potential for cross-sectoral decarbonization. In countries historically reliant on natural gas for domestic heating and cooking such as the UK, hydrogen may prove critical to meeting net-zero targets and strengthening energy security. In response, the UK government is targeting industrial decarbonization via hydrogen, with parallel interest in deploying hydrogen-fueled appliances for businesses and homes. However, prospective hydrogen futures, and especially the domestic hydrogen transition, face multiple barriers which reflect the cross-sectoral dynamics of achieving economies of scale and social acceptance. Addressing these challenges calls for a deep understanding of socio-technical factors across different scales of the hydrogen economy. In response, this paper develops a socio-technical systems framework for overcoming barriers to the domestic transition, which is applied to the UK context. The paper demonstrates that future strategies should account for interactions between political, techno-economic, technical, market, and social dimensions of the hydrogen transition. In parallel to techno-economic feasibility, the right policies will be needed to create an even playing field for green hydrogen technologies, while also supporting stakeholder symbiosis and consumer buy-in. Future studies should grapple with how an effective repurposing of pipelines, policies, and public perceptions can be aligned to accelerate the development of the hydrogen economy, with maximum net benefits for society and the environment.
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    Towards a unified theory of domestic hydrogen acceptance: an integrative, comparative review
    (Elsevier, 2023-12-28) Gordon, Joel A.; Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye; Nabavi, Seyed Ali
    Hydrogen energy technologies are envisioned to play a critical supporting role in global decarbonisation. While low-carbon hydrogen is primarily targeted for reducing industrial emissions, alongside decarbonising parts of the transport sector, environmental benefits could also be achieved in the residential context. Presently, gas-dependent countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom are assessing the feasibility of deploying hydrogen home appliances, as part of their national energy strategies. However, prospects for the transition will hinge on consumer acceptance, alongside an array of other socio-technical factors. To support potential ambitions for large-scale and sustained technology diffusion, this study advances a Unified Theory of Domestic Hydrogen Acceptance. Through an integrative, comparative literature review targeting hydrogen and domestic energy studies, the paper proposes a novel Domestic Hydrogen Acceptance Model (DHAM), which accounts for the cognitive and emotional dimensions of human perceptions. Through this dual interplay, the proposed framework can increase the predictive power of hydrogen acceptance models.