How can beliefs and attitudes influence the social acceptance process of sustainable energy technologies? A multiple approach

New sustainable and renewable energy technologies play a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of climate change (e.g., by embracing renewable sources like solar energy), and in and facilitating adaptation (e.g., trough geoengineering). The surge in studies examining the societal embrace of these technologies underscores the necessity of amalgamating research into a coherent perspective to harness the collective knowledge in this domain. For this purpose, two studies were conducted (two meta-analyses and a survey), aiming to scrutinize the primary social-psychological, contextual, and technological determinants influencing the social acceptance of such technologies, thereby fostering a comprehensive comprehension of the phenomenon. In Study 1, two meta-analyses delve into the intricate interplay of beliefs surrounding social-psychological, technological, and contextual facets, influencing the social acceptance of renewable and sustainable energy technologies. The findings underscore that the convictions held by adopters regarding social-psychological aspects, contextual considerations, and technology-related beliefs exert a more substantial impact on social acceptance compared to individual cognitive or sociodemographic variables. Building upon the insights gleaned from Study 1, Study 2 consists of a survey that, through different methodological approaches, investigates the characteristics of individuals most likely to embrace these technologies. It also probes into the influence of social-psychological, contextual, and technological beliefs on the social acceptance of these technologies. Specifically, the survey scrutinizes the pivotal role of these beliefs in shaping attitudes, subsequently fostering behavioral intentions towards acceptance. Lastly, the survey illuminates both similarities and disparities in the social acceptance processes between mitigation and adaptation technologies. The outcomes of this research contribute to an enhanced understanding of how beliefs impact the social acceptance of renewable and sustainable energy technologies. Such knowledge holds practical implications for potential interventions aimed at managing these influential beliefs.