1.    Long term acceptance for necessary changes is a basic prerequisite for a sustainable energy system. It can only be achieved by comprehensive information about chances and risks as well as the early involvement of affected persons into planning and financing of concrete projects.

2.    Acceptance needs to be based on rational consideration of advantages and disadvantages and should not fail due to unfounded fears (discourse orientation of the modern society). Engineers and scientists have the responsibility to create a solid basis for fundamental technology decisions. Chances and risks need to be investigated devoid of ideologies and a comprehensible communication of the results is necessary. Barriers to acceptance have to be identified.

3.    To judge, understand and finally create acceptance for complex large-scale technologies (e.g. energy technology), standardized evaluation factors can help (e.g. VDI 3780, IEA et al.: „Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development“). Those factors take into account social, financial and ecological aspects to create a rational basis of comparison between possible alternatives.

4.    Acceptance or tolerance, respectively, depends heavily on the level of personal affection. The possibility of rapid changes of this level has to be taken into account, if long-term acceptance is desired (e.g. „fast“ change of mood after Fukushima).