Term ‘decarbonisation’ best avoided in public debate

‘Decarbonisation’ is not well understood as a term used by the energy sector and may best be avoided when communicating with customers, an Ofgem survey has concluded.

The regulator’s latest addition to its annual consumer survey of more than 4,600 customers, focusing on decarbonisation, has been released following last month’s full publication.

In a summary of the key findings Ofgem said there is some understanding of key terms used in public discussion about climate change such as ‘net zero carbon emissions’ or ‘greenhouse gas emissions’, yet the term ‘decarbonisation’ isn’t well understood.

Just over half (56 per cent) of those surveyed had any understanding of the term ‘decarbonisation’, compared to 72 per cent who knew what ‘net zero carbon emissions’ means. Furthermore, 85 per cent said they had a level of understanding of the term ‘greenhouse gas emissions’.

Awareness and understanding of all terms was greater among social groups AB, higher-income households and those engaged in the energy market.

The figure for the recognition of net zero as a concept is in line with the latest results from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s Public Attitudes Tracker, which showed that as of December 2020, 76 per cent were aware of term, up from 52 per cent when the tracker was launched last March.

However, a poll by National Grid in March found 61 per cent of respondents had never heard of net zero.

Ofgem’s survey also looked at awareness of new energy policies. It found almost three quarters were aware of new policies related to electric vehicles (74 per cent) but fewer knew about upcoming policies related to home heating and insulation (44 per cent).

Of those aware of all policies, they were more likely to be older, owner occupiers and living in a house.

Transportation

Elsewhere the report found that take-up of fully electric vehicles (EVs) is higher among young people in age group 16-34 (43 per cent) and in social grades AB (56 per cent) as well as those with children (61 per cent).

Furthermore EV owners are more engaged generally, with 44 per cent saying they were on a time-of-use tariff compared to 12 per cent overall.

Around a quarter say their household intends to get an electric vehicle in the next five years, with younger people and higher income households more likely to say they will.

Price, battery life, charging issues and lack of knowledge remain the main barriers to uptake.

Domestic heating

The report also looked at awareness of low-carbon heating solutions and found more than three quarters are aware of electric storage heaters. Awareness of ground source and air source heat pumps is at 44 per cent and 36 per cent respectively. Meanwhile just 13 per cent are aware of hydrogen heating.

In terms of intentions to install low-carbon measures around a quarter (24 per cent) intend to upgrade insulation, but fewer (13 per cent) intend to install micro-generation or low carbon heating (14 per cent), which the regulator said may be linked to lower awareness of the systems.

Smart meters

More than half (59 per cent) of those surveyed who do not already have a smart meter said they would install one in the next two years.

Also, the report found there was a relatively low appetite for smart appliances or smart heating (34 per cent for each). Two thirds of EV owners however (66 per cent) are open to smart vehicle charging.