The research has been published at a time when British households are bracing themselves to face higher energy bills over forthcoming months. Meanwhile, there is widespread disagreement across the country with regard to the impact the green transition will have on consumers’ wallets.
While the survey results suggest an encouraging level of support amongst consumers for clean power, around three in five respondents (59 percent) remain opposed to (48 percent) or are unsure (11 percent) about the idea of absorbing extra costs to gain access to green energy.
The government is currently considering new measures to make the UK a ‘clean energy superpower’ by 2030 - including offering financial incentives to those living near new infrastructure developments.
“Though some have argued that the UK’s plans to decarbonise the grid by 2030 will lead to higher energy bills in the short term others, including the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO), claim that the goal can be achieved without driving up costs for billpayers” said Taco Engelaar, Managing Director at Neara. “According to senior researchers on the topic, as well as the UK’s Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, moving to a renewable energy system will ultimately bring prices down for consumers. However, in the interim, it’s surprising and encouraging to see how many consumers are willing to increase their payments in exchange for green energy flowing into their homes.”
The survey has revealed a clear generational divide when it comes to attitudes on the cost of clean energy. Among 18-24 year-olds, a significant 64 percent say they would be happy to pay higher energy bills if the supply came from renewable sources, compared with just 21 percent amongst the over-55’s.
A majority of people aged 18-44 were willing to pay more for green energy, with only the 45-54 and 55+ demographics displaying a majority objection to the idea.
Interestingly, when asked whether they would be willing to pay extra for a more reliable energy supply, only 1 in 3 respondents (34 percent) said yes. Meanwhile, more than 1 in 4 (27 percent) reported an increase in power cuts in their local area over the last five years.
Though blackouts are seemingly growing more frequent in some areas of the country, transitioning to renewables appears to be a more worthwhile investment than increased reliability in the eyes of consumers.
“While the British public is fairly split on their willingness to pay more for clean energy, the good news is that they shouldn’t have to in the long-run” added Mr Engelaar. “Evidence clearly demonstrates that transitioning away from fossil fuels to a renewable energy system ultimately will reduce costs for bill payers. The responsibility now lies with leaders to deliver the green transition as swiftly and efficiently as possible. Renewables production is expanding and public support for clean energy remains strong. By investing in innovative solutions to unlock grid capacity and drive forward renewables projects, we can fully harness the benefits of green energy and start bringing down bills. This approach will not only help us to achieve our net zero goals but will also alleviate the financial strain on households - proving that a clean energy future can be both sustainable and affordable.”
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