Survey reveals public confusion over which energy sources are renewable

LEICESTER, England, 2004-06-30 (Refocus Weekly)

There is “considerable confusion” about which sources of energy may be characterised as renewable, according to a survey of 1,866 individuals in seven countries of Europe.

The study by INTUSER Consortium attempted to provide a cross-national comparative analysis of public attitudes towards renewables, nuclear and fossil fuel energies in the United Kingdom, Austria, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. The Internet-based survey indicated above-average levels of education, with more than 50% having university education and 21% a post-graduate degree. Almost 90% lived in urban or suburban areas.

“In terms of attitudes, results indicated that there exist predominantly positive attitudes towards renewable energy in comparison to fossil-fuel and nuclear energy,” it concludes. There were high levels of awareness and positive attitudes across western and southern EU countries, but far less understanding of renewables among respondents in Romania and Slovakia, who had far more positive attitudes towards nuclear.

When asked if they would prefer to install renewable energy technology on their homes, 87% said yes and there was little variation across the countries. When asked which power station they would most prefer to have near their home, 86% said renewable energy as their first preferred option.
“Results indicated a consensus across countries that renewable energy is the energy source that is most positively represented by respondents,” with renewables perceived to be both good for the environment and safe, while nuclear is perceived to be both bad for the environment and vulnerable to terrorism.

INTUSER (Information Network on the Technology of Utilisation & Sustainability of Energy Resources) has a three-year budget of Euro 450,000 from the European Union's 5th Framework Program to raise public awareness of various energy resources. The partners include Innoterm Energetics and Geonardo of Hungary, the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Comtag of Switzerland, Instituto de Soldadura E Qualidade of Portugal,Centre for Renewable Energy Sources in Greece, University of Sheffield and de Montfort University in England, Bluewaters of Austria and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association.


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