Survey reveals public support for move to renewable energy

A new report titled Transforming the UK energy system – public values, attitudes and acceptability brings together the findings from two in-depth phases of research carried out over a period of 30 months; a series of six in-depth deliberative workshops with members of the public held across England, Scotland and Wales, and a nationally representative survey of 2,441 members of the public.

Funded by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKRC) the research was carried out by a team from Cardiff University’s School of Engineering, School of Psychology, and Welsh School of Architecture.

Prof Nick Pidgeon, School of Psychology, who led the research said: ‘Our participants saw the bigger picture of energy system transformation, and they were overwhelmingly committed to moving away from fossil fuels towards renewable forms of energy production and to lowering energy demand.’

The research highlights factors that are influential in public assessments of proposed changes. From examining these factors the research shows that publicly favourable changes would: be energy efficient rather than wasteful; protect the environment and nature; be reliable, accessible and safe; allow consumers a certain amount of autonomy and power; be socially just and fair; improve on what has gone before; score well in terms of quality and performance; and, fit with a long-term, sustainable trajectory, rather than being just a short-term fix.