Heterogeneity in public attitudes and preferences for the deployment of aquifer thermal energy storage
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Liu, Ting
Hanna, Richard
Kountouris, Yiannis
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) can contribute to heating and cooling decarbonization by utilizing the thermal capacity of natural aquifers. Securing acceptance and support for deploying ATES at scale requires acknowledging public perceptions and designing systems compatible with public preferences. Here we characterize attitudinal stances and preferences for the deployment of ATES in public buildings in the UK. Using data from a social survey and a discrete choice experiment, we find substantial heterogeneity in public attitudes and support for ATES installations. Latent class analysis identifies four distinct stances, ranging from cautiously negative to enthusiastically supportive. Estimating mixed multinomial and hybrid choice models, we find strong preferences for quicker deployment of ATES infrastructure, with greater CO2 emissions-reduction capacity, that can be accessed by private households. Results point to the need for tailored communication strategies and preference-compatible design for achieving socially desirable sustainable energy transitions.
Date Issued
2026-03-01
Date Acceptance
2026-01-09
Citation
Nature Energy, 2026, 11 (3), pp.479-489
ISSN
2058-7546
Publisher
Nature Research
Start Page
479
End Page
489
Journal / Book Title
Nature Energy
Volume
11
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2026 Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Identifier
10.1038/s41560-026-01977-z
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2026-03-06