A representative German survey experiment exploring the acceptability of green H2 storage: Significant links with socio-psychological predictors and targeted information

Rubina Shirin Steller; Erik Alexander Recklies; Petra Monika Schweizer-Ries; Astrid Kause

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2026.104907

A representative German survey experiment exploring the acceptability of green H2 storage: Significant links with socio-psychological predictors and targeted information

Titel in Übersetzung: Ein repräsentatives deutsches Umfrageexperiment zur Akzeptanz der Speicherung von grünem Wasserstoff: Signifikante Zusammenhänge mit soziopsychologischen Prädiktoren und gezielten Informationen

Rubina Shirin Steller
, Erik Alexander Recklies
, Petra Monika Schweizer-Ries
, Astrid Kause

Juniorprofessur für Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaft und Psychologie

Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › Begutachtung

Abstract

We examined how socio-psychological predictors link to the acceptability of green hydrogen energy storage systems (H2ESS) in residential areas and whether targeted information can increase acceptability. A representative German sample (N = 1004) completed an experimental online survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that participants with higher subjective and objective knowledge, as well as greater environmental consciousness, were more accepting. In contrast, participants who experienced stronger feelings of social disconnection (social relatedness frustration) were less accepting. Other indicators of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, namely autonomy satisfaction, autonomy frustration and social relatedness satisfaction, did not link to acceptability.

Titel in Übersetzung	Ein repräsentatives deutsches Umfrageexperiment zur Akzeptanz der Speicherung von grünem Wasserstoff: Signifikante Zusammenhänge mit soziopsychologischen Prädiktoren und gezielten Informationen
Originalsprache	Englisch
Aufsatznummer	104907
Zeitschrift	Energy Research and Social Science
Jahrgang	139
Seitenumfang	13
ISSN	2214-6296
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2026.104907
Publikationsstatus	Erschienen - 01.09.2026

Bibliographische Notiz

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 The Authors.

UN SDGs

Dieser Output leistet einen Beitrag zu folgendem(n) Ziel(en) für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 7 – Erschwingliche und saubere Energie
SDG 15 – Lebensraum Land

Fachgebiete und Schlagwörter

Soziologie
Umwelt Governance

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Kernenergie und Kernkraftwerkstechnik
Feuerungstechnik
Sozialwissenschaften (sonstige)
Erneuerbare Energien, Nachhaltigkeit und Umwelt
Energieanlagenbau und Kraftwerkstechnik

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abstract = "We examined how socio-psychological predictors link to the acceptability of green hydrogen energy storage systems (H 2ESS) in residential areas and whether targeted information can increase acceptability. A representative German sample ( N = 1004) completed an experimental online survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that participants with higher subjective and objective knowledge, as well as greater environmental consciousness, were more accepting. In contrast, participants who experienced stronger feelings of social disconnection (social relatedness frustration) were less accepting. Other indicators of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, namely autonomy satisfaction, autonomy frustration and social relatedness satisfaction, did not link to acceptability. Participants were also randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions or a baseline condition (receiving no information): The experimental conditions consisted of brief text-based interventions on H 2ESS focusing on (1) general information about the functionality and potential applications of H 2ESS, (2) additional information on environmental benefits, or (3) additional information on participation opportunities in the diffusion process of H 2ESS. Participants who received environmental benefits information reported the highest acceptability, followed by those exposed to participation opportunities information, and to a lesser extent those receiving general information, compared to the baseline condition. In open-ended responses, participants most frequently cited environmental sustainability as a reason for support, whereas lack of knowledge and uncertainty were commonly mentioned as reasons for opposition.",

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A representative German survey experiment exploring the acceptability of green H2 storage: Significant links with socio-psychological predictors and targeted information. / Steller, Rubina Shirin; Recklies, Erik Alexander; Schweizer-Ries, Petra Monika et al.
in: Energy Research and Social Science, Jahrgang 139, 104907, 01.09.2026.

Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › Begutachtung

TY - JOUR

T1 - A representative German survey experiment exploring the acceptability of green H2 storage: Significant links with socio-psychological predictors and targeted information

AU - Steller, Rubina Shirin

AU - Recklies, Erik Alexander

AU - Schweizer-Ries, Petra Monika

AU - Kause, Astrid

PY - 2026/9/1

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N2 - We examined how socio-psychological predictors link to the acceptability of green hydrogen energy storage systems (H 2ESS) in residential areas and whether targeted information can increase acceptability. A representative German sample ( N = 1004) completed an experimental online survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that participants with higher subjective and objective knowledge, as well as greater environmental consciousness, were more accepting. In contrast, participants who experienced stronger feelings of social disconnection (social relatedness frustration) were less accepting. Other indicators of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, namely autonomy satisfaction, autonomy frustration and social relatedness satisfaction, did not link to acceptability. Participants were also randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions or a baseline condition (receiving no information): The experimental conditions consisted of brief text-based interventions on H 2ESS focusing on (1) general information about the functionality and potential applications of H 2ESS, (2) additional information on environmental benefits, or (3) additional information on participation opportunities in the diffusion process of H 2ESS. Participants who received environmental benefits information reported the highest acceptability, followed by those exposed to participation opportunities information, and to a lesser extent those receiving general information, compared to the baseline condition. In open-ended responses, participants most frequently cited environmental sustainability as a reason for support, whereas lack of knowledge and uncertainty were commonly mentioned as reasons for opposition.

AB - We examined how socio-psychological predictors link to the acceptability of green hydrogen energy storage systems (H 2ESS) in residential areas and whether targeted information can increase acceptability. A representative German sample ( N = 1004) completed an experimental online survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that participants with higher subjective and objective knowledge, as well as greater environmental consciousness, were more accepting. In contrast, participants who experienced stronger feelings of social disconnection (social relatedness frustration) were less accepting. Other indicators of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, namely autonomy satisfaction, autonomy frustration and social relatedness satisfaction, did not link to acceptability. Participants were also randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions or a baseline condition (receiving no information): The experimental conditions consisted of brief text-based interventions on H 2ESS focusing on (1) general information about the functionality and potential applications of H 2ESS, (2) additional information on environmental benefits, or (3) additional information on participation opportunities in the diffusion process of H 2ESS. Participants who received environmental benefits information reported the highest acceptability, followed by those exposed to participation opportunities information, and to a lesser extent those receiving general information, compared to the baseline condition. In open-ended responses, participants most frequently cited environmental sustainability as a reason for support, whereas lack of knowledge and uncertainty were commonly mentioned as reasons for opposition.

KW - Sociology

KW - Structural equation modeling

KW - Psychological intervention

KW - Baseline (sea)

KW - Social comparison theory

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KW - Sustainability

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