Backing for renewable energy rebounds to record high

Backing for renewable energy has rebounded to record levels, according to the latest government survey on the issue.

The autumn edition of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department’s quarterly energy and climate public attitudes tracker survey, shows 88% support the use of renewable energy to provide electricity and heat. This includes 56% who express strong support.

The 88% figure breaks the previous record high of 87%, set in autumn 2021, and follows a “slight dip” in support between the following winter and this summer.

Opposition to the use of renewable energy remained very low (2%), according to the survey, which was carried out during September.

The same survey shows a record 85% of people support offshore wind, beating the previous high of 84% set a year ago.

In addition, support for solar energy rose from 87% in the spring, when the survey last polled attitudes on individual renewables technologies, to 89%. The survey was carried out during the short tenure of ex-prime minister Liz Truss, whose government considered moves to make it harder to use agricultural land for solar farms.

Support for biomass and onshore wind were unchanged on 72% and 79% respectively.

Just over half of those surveyed (54%) said they would be happy for a solar panel farm to be built in their local area, while 43% were positive about having a local windfarm.

One in eight (12%) said they would be unhappy about the construction of an onshore wind farm in their local area, and 7% felt the same way about solar panel farm.

Support for gas fracking has increased since last autumn from 17% to 25% in the latest survey.

However, those backing the controversial method are still outnumbered by opponents (36%).

The proportion saying they were “very concerned” about climate change increased from 39% in the summer of this year to 45% in the autumn. However the overall level of those expressing concern on the issue was unchanged on 83%.

Polling carried out during the summer, also published in the latest edition of the tracker, shows 76% of respondents were concerned about more frequent power cuts with 43% feeling “very concerned”.

The polling shows “unequivocally” that the “overwhelming majority” want more on and offshore wind farms, said Dan McGrail, chief executive of RenewableUK.

“This sky-high level of public support needs to be reflected fully in government policy. This week ministers have started publishing crucial details of the next auction for contracts to generate clean power and a consultation on future rounds beyond that. It’s vital that we secure as much new capacity as possible in each annual auction round at prices which are sustainable – and that we do so in a way which enables our supply chain to grow throughout the country. So the new parameters need to be set carefully to boost confidence among investors”.