Energy Perception Survey 2024
Survey confirms that vast majority of UK public concerned about threat of climate change to them and family
2,000 residents from across the nation and 100 decision makers in energy-intensive industries respond to questions on climate change and energy.
Foreword
Achieving net zero will require a total re-wiring of the global energy system, as carbon-intensive energy sources are replaced by emissions-free ones, and energy-consuming devices and processes are switched over to run on clean fuels and electricity.
The need for urgency has never been clearer: the world requires a three-fold acceleration in investment into low-carbon energy technologies if it is to get on track for net zero by mid-century.
The continued development of new clean energy technologies, and the implementation of supportive policy environments, will play central roles in enabling this transition - but so too will the attitudes, perceptions and decisions of many millions of citizens and business leaders worldwide. How these individuals perceive the opportunities and risks in the low-carbon transition; their grasp of the key facts and trade-offs; their support for different policy measures, and ultimately the purchasing and investment decisions they take, have the potential to make or break our collective efforts to limit climate change.
The general public
This new study reveals a high level of awareness of climate change and its risks - nearly 70% of the general public surveyed are ‘worried’ about climate change. Respondents also voiced their approval of key technology solutions: wind, solar, green hydrogen and hydropower are each seen as ‘positive’ by a majority of respondents, and renewable energy is an important factor for 77% of those surveyed, when choosing an energy supplier. Some public are still not comfortable living near new energy infrastructure, such as wind and solar farms – a stance which will hinder large-scale adoption of renewables in densely populated countries. The survey points to possible solutions, however, with local benefits such as electricity discount schemes being seen as attractive to promote acceptance of local energy infrastructure.
Industry
As clean energy technologies become mainstream, public and business perceptions will increasingly shape the success and speed of energy transition initiatives in different countries. With this in mind, I welcome the findings from this new study commissioned by Statkraft, and hope you will find the results to be both thought-provoking and inspiring.
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Jon Moore, CEO at BloombergNEF Jon is CEO of BloombergNEF taking on this role at the end of 2013. BloombergNEF (BNEF) is a strategic research provider covering global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. BNEF assesses pathways for the power, transport, industry, buildings and agriculture sectors to adapt to the energy transition, helping commodity traders, corporate strategists, finance and policy professionals navigate change. |
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About the survey
- Research conducted in July 2024 on behalf of Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy, to understand how society and industry perceive energy-related challenges.
- 100 decision makers in energy-intensive industries participated in the corporate survey*
- Over 2,000 general public shared their views in the nationally representative survey*
Detailed information about the survey respondents on the bottom of the page
Main common findings among respondents from the general public
Over two thirds of the general public are worried about the climate change threat for these top 3 reasons:
- Environmental consequences such as flooding, wildfires, heatwaves, and sea levels rising
- The detrimental effect it has on the habitats of people and animals
- The increased cost of living
78% say renewable energy is important when choosing an energy supplier (76% of onshore wind, 76% of offshore wind, 83% of solar power, and 75% of hydropower). The most important reason being “positive as it creates energy independence” (24%) .
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57%agree it's big corporates' responsibility and 56% say it's down to the government to solve climate change
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45%believe energy companies supplying fossil fuels are the biggest contributors to climate change with 56% saying they're guilty of 'greenwashing'
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77%say renewable energy is important when choosing an energy supplier yet a third don't have much understanding of where their energy comes from
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43%agree renewables are good for bills, with under 3 in 10 believing their bills will go down
Main common findings among respondents from the industry
When asked “What more can your company do to meet carbon neutrality goals?”, UK respondents replied:
- 53% say it's important to implement more programmes aimed at improving individual and companywide carbon emissions
- 47% purchasing power through a renewable power company
- 42% say beginning or improving upon existing climate strategies
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95%say the procurement of renewable energy with associated certification is important.
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87%say their company would be willing to pay for an uplift for renewable energy with associated certification.
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89%say they collaborate with their energy supplier in developing energy strategies
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65%say their company currently sources its electricity from renewable energy sources
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Solar panels and EVs are the main technology solutions UK businesses are exploring in the next 3 years, followed closely by battery storage and wind turbines
100 decision makers in the following sectors: Mining and steel manufacturer, Chemicals and petrochemicals, Metals or cement, Machinery, Food/beverage, Pulp and paper, Transportation/automotive, Tech and Data storage, Energy companies, who have the following job titles: (Senior) Procurement Officer/Specialist/Manager, Energy Manager/Buyer, Sustainability Analyst/Manager, Head of Sustainability, Purchasing Manager, (Global) Energy Director, Head of Energy Business in the UK between 02.07.2024 – 09.07.2024. The sample is tailored to give a top-line view of the opinions of those in specific job roles, with a margin of error of +/- 9.8% (confidence interval of 9.8 at 95% confidence level).
2,000 Respondents in the UK (Nat rep 18+) between 04.07.2024 – 15.07.2024. The sample is nationally representative, ensuring the results provide a fairly accurate reflection of the general population's views. The margin of error for this group is +/- 2.19% (confidence interval of 2.19 at 95% confidence level).