Lay perceptions of carbon capture and storage technology C. Oltra a, *, R. Sala a , R. Sola ` a , M. Di Masso b , G. Rowe c a Socio-technical Research Centre (CISOT), CIEMAT, Spain b Universitat Auto `noma de Barcelona, Spain c Institute of Food Research (IFR), UK 1. Introduction Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is moving to the centre of climate policy discussion. CCS involves the separation and compression of CO 2 from point sources and its disposal in saline aquifers, depleted oil or gas fields, or in the oceans. Massive reductions of CO 2 emissions from coal power plants and other industries are the key benefit of CCS put forward by its promoters. CCS could also contribute to energy security and to economic growth, through encouraging technological innovation. Several research and development (R&D) projects on CCS have been initiated in the last few years, and demonstration projects are being implemented all over the world (Fischedik et al., 2007). Further- more, governments in different countries are stimulating the commercial deployment of CCS (e.g. EU, UK, Australia). However, there is still uncertainty about the large-scale implementation of this emergent technology. A sense of increased environmental and safety risks, related to leakages and accidental releases during carbon capture and geological storage, and the preference for other climate change mitigation options, mainly energy efficiency and renewable energy, have led some to question as to whether storing carbon emissions should be an option (Kirchsteiger, 2008). New technologies face different barriers to adoption. Together with technical and economic feasibility and a lack of stimulating policies, laws and regulation may hinder the diffusion of the technology through the economic system (Kemp, 2000). Accep- tance by the key stakeholders, policy actors and the general public may play a role in technology deployment decisions (Wu ¨ stenha- gen et al., 2007). Multiple stakeholder groups with competing or exclusive interests might make the successful development of a technology difficult (Seager et al., 2007). In the CCS context, the opposition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), experts and other industries to CCS may result in a decreasing social acceptance. The social perception of the technology is a matter of research interest in the CCS context and of concern for policy makers (as exemplified by an EC Consultation in 2007) and the industry (as shown by the outreach activities of CCS technology platforms at the EU level and the national level). But also community acceptance of the specific projects of CO 2 geological storage may be a key issue in the sustainable embeddedness of the technology in society. Some community consultation initiatives have been developed in the context of CCS projects, such as Total’s pilot project in Lacq (Total, 2008). The cancellation of a CO 2 ocean storage project in Hawaii (De Figueiredo, 2003), and the protests around storage projects in countries such as The Netherlands, show the importance of taking into account public concerns when managing the installation of potentially hazardous technological facilities. As analysed in other risk contexts (Renn and Kastenholz, 2000), two levels of debate may frame policy decisions on CCS. First, there is a risk context, around geological storage, due to perceived risks and costs to communities from the technology, which has been a significant issue in risk management and governance in the last International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 4 (2010) 698–706 ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 26 October 2009 Received in revised form 25 January 2010 Accepted 9 February 2010 Available online 11 March 2010 Keywords: Public perception Social acceptance Carbon capture and storage Focus groups Public engagement ABSTRACT The extent of social acceptance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is likely to significantly influence the sustainable development of CO 2 storage projects. Acceptance of CCS by the key stakeholders (policy makers, the general public, the media and the local community), linked to specific projects, as well as how the technology is communicated about and perceived by the public, have become matters of interest for the social sciences. This article reports on an investigation of the public perception of CCS technology in Spain. Individuals’ views on CCS are analysed through focus groups with lay citizens using ‘‘stimulus materials’’. As the analysis shows, lay views of CCS differ significantly from the views of decision-makers and experts. Public concerns and reactions to CCS technology and potential projects, as well as the degree of consensus on its acceptance or rejection are detailed. Implications for the future use of CCS are discussed. ß 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author at: CISOT-CIEMAT, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 604, 48 2 , 08007 Barcelona, Spain. Tel.: +34 934813920; fax: +34 933020002. E-mail address: christian.oltra@ciemat.es (C. Oltra). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijggc 1750-5836/$ – see front matter ß 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2010.02.001