Support for solar strongest in survey
BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 1, 2006 (Refocus
Weekly)
Developing the use of solar power is the single
most popular goal for residents of Europe, according to a survey of
50,000 people.
When asked where national governments of the EU-25 should focus
to reduce the current energy dependency, improvement of the use of
renewables and more investments in research are seen as the main
solutions, explains ‘Attitudes towards Energy’ produced for
Eurobarometer. The average for the EU-25 was 48% for the development
of solar, with another 31% calling for development of wind energy.
Development of nuclear was supported by 12% while 23% supported
regulations to reduce oil consumption. Another 41% called for
advanced research for new energy technologies such as hydrogen and
clean coal.
Respondents were asked for their top two solutions.
Support for solar was highest in Cyprus at 76% and lowest in
Lithuania at 16%. The largest support for wind was 59% in Denmark
and lowest in Italy at 15%. In Germany, 55% supported solar and 26%
supported wind, while the levels were 43% and 39% in Britain, 50%
and 28% in Spain, and 63% and 38% in France.
The question was stated: “To reduce our dependency on imported
energy resources, governments have to choose from a list of
alternatives, sometimes costly solutions,” In more than half of the
countries, development of solar power is rated as the main focus
while eight of the 25 countries said advanced research is the best
way to tackle energy dependency.
The survey was conducted with 29,430 personal interviews in October
and November, and released in January. Respondents in the
Netherlands (62%) and Denmark (61%) preferred advanced research over
solar or wind.
A majority (54%) were not prepared to pay a premium for renewables,
with opposition reaching 66% in the EU-10 countries, while 27% were
prepared to pay more if the price increase remained below 5%. Above
that level, 27% were supportive and 13% backed a higher rise.
Tolerance of higher prices for renewables was highest in Slovakia at
76%and lowest in Lithuania at 35%. Males were more supportive of a
price premium than women (42% vs 38%), with support correlated with
youth, education and urbanization.
Most respondents (47%) preferred decisions on energy challenges to
be made at the EU level, while 37% want action at the national level
and 8% at the local level.
“The message from the citizens is a clear one; energy is a concern
for all Europeans and people expect clear and concrete actions on
all political levels,” says energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
“Europe needs a real energy policy focused on security of supply,
competitiveness and sustainability.”
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