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Renewable gases in the heating market: Identifying consumer preferences through a Discrete Choice Experiment

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  • Rilling, Benedikt
  • Kurz, Peter
  • Herbes, Carsten
Abstract
Renewable gases like biomethane or Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) can play an important role in short-to mid-term decarbonization of the residential heating sector. By (partially) replacing the dominant natural gas, they accomplish two major goals: lowering CO2 emissions and lessening import dependencies. While existing research points to great production potential and technical options for producing renewable gases, the demand side has largely been neglected. Yet consumer decision making is highly relevant for climate change mitigation. Against this backdrop, we conducted a Discrete Choice Experiment with 512 heating consumers in Germany, a country with a high dependency on natural gas. We decomposed the gas tariff into six attributes (share of renewable gas, labels, regionality, biomethane feedstock, supplier type, and price) with varying attribute levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Rilling, Benedikt & Kurz, Peter & Herbes, Carsten, 2024. "Renewable gases in the heating market: Identifying consumer preferences through a Discrete Choice Experiment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:184:y:2024:i:c:s0301421523004421
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113857
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