Majority of people support renewable energy projects, poll finds

Louise Frohlich
Written By
Maximilian Schwerdtfeger
Reviewed By
Published on 14 August 2024
  • 59% of 10,021 UK adults support new electricity grid infrastructure 
  • 61% would be frustrated by the prevention of a clean energy project 
  • 8% opposed new infrastructure if it were built within five miles of their homes
A hard hat on a solar panel

59% of pollers support the construction of new electricity grid

Sixty-one per cent of people in the UK would be frustrated if a widely-supported local renewable energy project was blocked, according to a new UK-wide Opinium Research poll, commissioned by RenewableUK.

The poll, conducted from 19 – 22 April 2024, indicated that nearly two thirds (61%) of participants want new clean energy projects to go ahead where they have local support and would find it “frustrating” if new wind and solar farms were scrapped due to minority of people objecting.

This view is higher among Labour voters, with 70% of people agreeing; out of the 10,021 participants, only 19% disagreed.

This comes as the Labour government has already lifted the de-facto ban on onshore wind farms and approved three giant solar farms, as part of its long-term strategy. 

Nathan Bennett, head of strategic communications at RenewableUK, said there was rising support for new wind and solar farms in the UK.

He put this down to their low cost and concerns about the UK’s energy security and the need to tackle climate change. 

“What’s interesting about this polling is that support doesn’t just remain strong when people are faced with the prospect of a wind farm in their local area, but there’s now a silent majority of people who would be frustrated to see local projects stopped by small groups of opponents,” Bennett commented. 

Additionally, over half of participants (59%) support new electricity grid infrastructure if it means delivering a faster roll out of economical renewable energy.

Six per cent opposed, jumping to 8% if the infrastructure were to be built within five miles of peoples homes. 

Support for grid upgrades close to home also increased from 59% to 61%, in favour of a national programme of grid upgrades to support clean energy investment in local communities. 

Bennett continued: “The polling on public attitudes to new grid infrastructure is also revealing, as it shows that the majority of people are happy to see a new grid built near to them if the project is part of a clear national plan, provides local funding for communities and enables investment in projects which generate low-cost power.

“We’re looking forward to making progress on this long standing barrier as soon as possible.”

As stated in their election manifesto, the Labour party said that a lack of new grid infrastructure is by far the largest obstacle when it comes to the construction of cheap, clean power.

In some areas, grid connection dates aren’t being offered until beyond 2030, past Labours target for 45% net zero

Energy secretary, Ed Miliband MP, said: “In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee our energy security and cut bills permanently is to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown clean energy.”

As part of their pledge, Labour plans to nationalise the grid through Great British Energy and ensure that everyone is afforded clean energy at a price that mitigates the cost of living crisis. 

Written by

Louise Frohlich

Louise joined The Eco Experts as Editorial Assistant in April 2004. She is a talented artist who has a keen interest in solutions that lead to a more environmentally-friendly future.

Louise graduated from the University of Winchester in 2022 and went on to write for The Eco Experts sister site, Expert Reviews. She has taken part in charity expeditions to Ecuador and Uganda to help build water pipes, promote environmental cleanup initiatives and implement sustainable farming techniques. She now uses her knowledge to help readers make more eco-friendly choices.

Alongside her passion for the environment she enjoys theatre, portraiture and Egyptology.

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Reviewed By

Maximilian Schwerdtfeger

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.

He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.

Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.

As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.

His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.

Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.

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