The public have expressed frustration at the rejection of renewable energy projects by local councils, according to a new survey.
The survey conducted by Opinium Research, and commissioned by RenewableUK, highlighted widespread public frustration when local renewable energy projects with community support are hindered by a minority of objectors. The poll, which gathered responses from 10,021 UK adults, shows that 61% of respondents would be frustrated if a local renewable energy project supported by the majority was blocked from construction.
This was a widespread issue with onshore wind projects, with the Conservative Government having issued a de facto ban on any new onshore wind project even if it received widespread community support. That’s because just one objection could have derailed the project. That policy has since been abolished by the new Labour Government.
The data from Opinium Research also indicates a strong endorsement for the development of new electricity grid infrastructure to facilitate the rapid deployment of low-cost renewable energy, with 59% in favour and only 6% against. This support increases to 61% in favour of new grid infrastructure within five miles of respondents’ homes if it is part of a national upgrade program that includes local community funding, with only 8% opposed.
A recent study by Neara further supports the positive public sentiment towards grid infrastructure if it’s used for renewable energy, while the need for enhanced grid infrastructure was also underscored in the Labour party’s election manifesto, which identified it as a crucial impediment to deploying affordable, clean power. The manifesto noted that some grid connection dates are not available until the late 2030s, prompting government consideration of collaborative efforts with the industry to upgrade the national transmission network and effectively rewire Britain.
Nathan Bennett, Head of Strategic Communications at RenewableUK, commented on the findings, stating, “Support for new wind and solar farms has been rising for several years now, driven by their low cost, 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.
“The polling on public attitudes to new grid infrastructure is also revealing, as it shows that the majority of people are happy to see 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. The Government is committed to introducing reforms to get vital new grid infrastructure built faster to make the most of our world-class clean energy resources, so we’re looking forward to making progress on this long standing barrier as soon as possible.”