The University of Nottingham

The values and factors that influence people when deciding whether to accept or reject changes to the energy system are revealed for the first time by research involving Nottingham academics.

The findings of the study, which was led by Cardiff University and draws on expertise from The University of Nottingham, reveal that people in Britain are fully supportive of the idea of energy change.

Professor Nick Pidgeon of Cardiff University, who led the research team, states: “Our participants saw the bigger picture of energy system transformation, and they were overwhelmingly committed to moving away from fossil fuels towards renewable forms of energy production, and to lowering energy demand.

“Our research has shown clearly that people are more likely to accept changes that show signs of commitment to their underlying values, such as energy system components that are clean, efficient, fair and safe. The public is also keen for policy makers to clarify how current changes to the energy system fit with longer-term plans, and to develop an intelligible and coherent strategy for this.”

The research, unveiled today at the Royal Society and funded by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), highlights key factors that are influential in public assessments of proposed changes. From examining these factors, the research shows that the public favours changes that are:

• Energy efficient rather than wasteful
• Protect the environment and nature
• Are reliable, accessible and safe
• Allow consumers a certain amount of autonomy and power
• Are socially just and fair
• Improve on what has gone before
• Score well in terms of quality and performance
• Fit with long-term sustainable trajectory rather than being just a short-term fix

The report proposes that energy policies not taking account of these factors in combination are unlikely to secure public support.

The study report, Transforming the UK Energy System — Public Values, Attitudes and Acceptability, brings together the findings from two in-depth phases of research carried out over 30 months; a series of six in-depth deliberative workshops with members of the public held across England, Scotland and Wales; and a nationally representative survey of 2,441 members of the public. Findings include:

• In the national survey, 74 per cent of participants were very or fairly concerned about climate change, while 82 per cent were worried about the UK becoming too dependent upon energy from other countries.
• 79 per cent wanted to see a reduction in the use of fossil fuels over the next few decades; 81 per cent expressed a desire to reduce their energy use; and support for solar (85 per cent) and wind energy (75 per cent) remained very strong.
• The study examined high technology electricity supply options. People were unfamiliar with carbon capture and storage (42 per cent of people had never heard of it) and when given further information many expressed concern, viewing it as a ‘non transition’ — a continuation of unsustainable practices associated with fossil fuels.
• The public is undecided on the role of nuclear power in the future energy mix. However, over half (54 per cent) still said they would oppose the building of a new nuclear power station in their area.
• Awareness of new low-carbon technologies for the home, such as ‘heat pumps’, was low. The percentage of people willing to use electric heating rose from 42 per cent to 61 per cent if it was posed as matching the performance of current systems, and to 85 per cent if it was also presented as cheaper. A majority (53 per cent) were willing to use electric vehicles, rising to 75 per cent if they performed as well as conventional models.
• There were mixed views about smart metering and so-called ‘demand side management’ — where use of new information technology helps to promote energy efficiency and reduction measures. Here, notions about the home being a private space, free from outside control, were important. People were also more open to the idea of appliances being turned off automatically after a period on standby, for example, than they were about having their showering times curtailed or their fridges and freezers controlled remotely.
• Whilst most people were willing to share their electricity data, around a fifth (22 per cent) were not. Interestingly, people were more willing to share data about their electricity use with energy companies than with the Government, who they perceived to be motivated by short-term motives related to the electoral cycle rather than a genuine desire for change.
• Neither energy companies nor Government were trusted, and the research indicates that this issue must be addressed for successful energy system change.

Involved in the research was Dr Alexa Spence, of the School of Psychology and Horizon Digital Economy Research, based at The University of Nottingham. She said: “The smart meter rollout in the UK will enable household electricity data to be accessed and shared to a greater extent and a proportion of people have concerns about this. The specifics of how data is managed and shared must be carefully controlled otherwise more significant opposition could arise.