Support for renewables remains high amid concern about energy prices
This means three quarters of those surveyed support the use of renewables to generate the UK’s electricity fuel and heat, similar to September 2012’s figure of 79%.
The Traking Survey was set up in early 2012 to understand and monitor public attitudes to the Department’s main business priorities. Support for individual renewable energy sources (off shore wind, biomass, onshore wind, wave and tidal and solar) was largely unchanged over the course of a year.
The latest edition, which collected data between 25th and 29th September, reveals no more than a ±1% change in support for any of the renewable technologies covered in the survey. Overall: 76%, Biomass: 60%, Offshore wind: 72%, Onshore wind: 66%, Solar: 82%, Wave & tidal: 71%.
However, concern about energy bills remains high, with nearly half of those surveyed saying they are worried about paying their energy bills.
Despite the many recent government messages to consumers to switch their energy supplier as a way to cut their energy bills, the number people planning to do so remains unchanged since the September 2012 survey, sticking at 34%.
Responding to DECC’s latest stats, REA Chief Executive Dr Nina Skorupska comments:
“This is a timely reminder that renewables enjoy higher levels of public support than any other energy generation technology. Renewable energy protects the environment and boosts home-grown jobs and investments.
“However, we know we cannot afford to be complacent as more and more people are struggling to pay their fuel bills. We support the Government’s intention to ensure costs to consumers are kept to a minimum, provided they do not undermine jobs and investment in the green economy.
“Renewables will not need subsidy forever. The more mature technologies, such as onshore wind and solar PV, will be able to compete without subsidy in years, not decades. By investing in renewables today, we grow the industry, bring down the unit costs and insulate energy consumers against the volatile prices and pollution of fossil fuels, forever.”
Energy Secretary Edward Davey reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the renewable energy sector at the Renewable UK conference in Birmingham yesterday (5 November 2013).
"The prospects for renewable energy in the United Kingdom have never been better,” he said.
“This Government is putting in place the most robust and stable long-term framework for the transition to low-carbon energy this country has ever had.”
Davey’s speech coincided with DECC’s update to the Renewable Energy Roadmap which shows that the last year has been one of the most successful years ever for Britain’s renewable energy drive, with big leaps forward in actual deployment and newly announced projects.
“Investment in innovation now will improve the affordability of the technologies we deploy in the future, reduce bills for households and businesses, and strengthen energy security by offering a range of technology options for the UK to deploy,” said Davey.
“Successful innovation could save the UK up to £160 billion in energy supply costs to 2050 and contribute up to £89 billion to the UK economy over the same period.”
