BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 28, 2007.
Solar energy is four times more popular than nuclear to the citizens of the European Union.
Solar energy received a favourable vote from 80% of 19,000 respondents, with 14% expressing mixed views in a survey conducted for the European Commission. Nuclear had a 20% support level, with 36% balanced views and 37% opposition.
Wind was favoured by 71% (21% mixed) and hydro by 65% (23% mixed). Ocean energy (tidal, wave, marine currents) received favourable support from 60% (24% mixed) while biomass was 55% (27% mixed). Natural gas was viewed favourably by 42% (47%), oil by 27% (52%) and coal by 26% (49% mixed) in their own country.
“A great majority of citizens across the EU25 are willing to accept the use of solar and wind energy in their country,” with Danes (95%), Cypriots (94%) and Greeks (93%) expressing the greatest enthusiasm about these sources. Opposition to solar and wind was practically non-existent in the results.
Greatest support for solar and wind is found among people who consider that reducing energy consumption is a very important issue in their country (86% and 76% in favour respectively). Despite their strong support, the elderly, lower education and homeworkers are slightly less favourable to solar and wind.
Hydroelectricity, ocean energy and biomass tend to divide public opinion in Europe. Respondents appear to be less familiar with these sources because no-reply rates are higher than those concerning solar and wind, especially in Malta. Also, these energy forms are related to the natural resources of a country, with 85% of respondents in the Czech Republic accepting hydroelectricity while only 26% of Maltese hold that view.
Ocean energy is supported by 88% of Danes while only one quarter of Latvians and Estonians agree. Three-quarters of Germans are favourable to biomass while only 21% of Maltese share that view.
When asked what first comes to mind when they think about energy issues, 33% said energy prices, followed by 14% who said renewables and 12% who responded electricity supply. Limited energy sources, nuclear and environmental issues were the next three items mentioned in the non-prompted response.
Energy issues are considered to be important but when all issues are considered, EU citizens rate energy issues (14%) far below unemployment (64%), crime (36%) and healthcare (30%). When the focus turns to energy, Europeans place great importance on reducing energy consumption in their own country (54% as very important) and EU citizens “perceive great future promise in the use of renewable energies, and nuclear energy also has its place in the future energy mix.”
In relation to the present energy structure in their countries, citizens are reluctant to accept the use of fossil fuels (less than half favour gas, oil and coal) but are highly favourable of renewable energies (all forms, 55% or over). When looking to 30 years ahead, Europeans anticipate a fundamental swing towards the use of renewables, particularly solar (+43 percentage points) and wind (+33 percentage points).
“The prevalence of renewable energy forms in Europeans’ minds is also confirmed by the fact that 14% of them spontaneously link energy issues with renewable energy and also show a preference for directing the EU’s research funding into developing new energy technologies that are not yet widely used (29%) or discovered (23%),” it concludes. “Citizens appear to opt for changing the energy structure, enhancing research and development and guaranteeing the stability of the energy field rather than saving energy as the way to meet energy challenges.”
