Public Attitudes To Renewable Energy Highlight Need For Better Welsh-Specific Data

Press Release
8^th July 2025

The Welsh Countryside Charity, CPRW, highlights recent findings from the UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) “Public Attitudes Tracker” for Spring 2025, underlining the complexities in public opinion on renewable energy and the urgent need for Wales-specific research.

The DESNZ report, widely cited in UK and Welsh government policy discussions, shows a general high level of concern for climate change and broad acceptance of renewable energy technologies across the UK. However, trends indicate a gradual decline in concern and acceptance over recent years. Solar energy remains the most popular renewable option, followed by wave and tidal, offshore wind, and biomass.

Dr Jonathan Dean, CPRW Trustee, comments: “While it is no surprise that concern for climate change remains high, the nuances in public attitudes toward specific renewable technologies, especially onshore wind and solar farms, are often overlooked. For example, people tend to be more accepting of offshore wind than onshore, particularly when it comes to developments near their homes. The scale and proximity of these projects—often much larger and closer than respondents might imagine—are critical factors that current surveys do not adequately capture.”

Dr Jonathan Dean adds: “There is currently no comparable research focusing solely on Wales, despite Welsh Government’s reliance on UK-wide data to shape energy policy. This gap risks overlooking local perspectives and concerns, particularly as many new projects propose turbines and solar farms of unprecedented size, situated very close to residential areas.”

The report also raises concerns over survey methodologies, particularly how questions about “local area” renewable installations are framed, which can mislead respondents and skew public opinion data. For example, recent wind turbines proposed in Wales reach heights of 200-250 meters, significantly larger than the turbines visible to many survey participants, yet this distinction is not reflected in the surveys.

CPRW calls for:

• Dedicated research focused on Welsh public attitudes towards renewable energy
• Greater transparency and detail in public surveys regarding the size and proximity of proposed renewable developments
• Policy decisions informed by accurate, locally relevant data that balances renewable ambitions with community impact