Official Statistics

DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker: Renewable energy, Spring 2025, UK

Published 3 July 2025

The DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker is a nationally representative annual survey of adults (aged 16+) in the UK that tracks public awareness, attitudes and behaviours relating to the policies of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), such as energy and climate change.

This report provides a summary of the headline findings relating to renewable energy from the Spring 2025 wave of the Tracker, which ran from 17 March and 22 April 2025.

Notes for interpretation of findings

Differences between groups are only reported where they are statistically significant at the 95% confidence interval level.

The annual personal income referred to in the report is a self-reported measure.

The age-related findings are reported using six age groups (16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 and over). In some cases, findings across age groups have been combined to describe a general trend, for example, ‘between 78% and 88% of people aged 45 and above’ refers to the range of percentages for the three age groups 45-54, 55-64 and 65+.

Two summary self-reported measures are used in this report:

• ‘Awareness’ encompasses all respondents who said they had heard of a particular concept or technology, including those who said ‘hardly anything but I’ve heard of this’, ‘a little’, ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a lot’.
• ‘Knowledge’ encompasses those who said that they know ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a lot’ about a topic.

Support for renewable energy

Figure 2.1 displays both the longer-term trends in overall support for renewable energy (line chart) and the detailed data on support for the most recent two waves alongside the baseline (bar chart).

Overall support for the use of renewable energy such as wind power, solar energy and biomass to provide electricity, fuel and heat has decreased from 87% at the start of the time series in Autumn 2021 to 80% in Spring 2025, albeit with some minor fluctuations. In particular, strong support has declined from 54% in Autumn 2021 to 46% in Spring 2025.

While opposition remains low, it has increased slightly over time from 1% in Autumn 2021 to 4% in Spring 2025.

Focussing on more recent waves, between Winter 2024 and Spring 2025 levels of support for renewables remained stable with no significant changes.

Figure 2.1: Whether support use of renewable energy (% based on all people), Autumn 2021 to Spring 2025

RENEWSUPPORT. The next question is about renewable energy. This includes a number of different forms of energy, such as wind power, solar energy and biomass. Do you support or oppose the use of renewable energy for providing our electricity, fuel and heat?

Base: All wave respondents – Autumn 2021 (5,558), Winter 2021 (3,705), Spring 2022 (4,373), Summer 2022 (4,489), Autumn 2022 (4,160), Winter 2022 (3,572), Spring 2023 (4,403), Summer 2023 (3,997), Winter 2023 (3,724), Spring 2024 (4,087), Summer 2024 (3,642), Winter 2024 (3,212), Spring 2025 (3,412) (Asked each wave)

Note: On the line chart, arrows denote a significant difference between one wave and the next. For the bar chart, significant differences are noted between Autumn 2021 and Winter 2024, and between Winter 2024 and Spring 2025.

Analysis by subgroups

• Overall support was highest for those aged 25 to 34 (86%) and 35 to 44 (85%) and lowest in those aged 16 to 24 (78%), and those in age groups 45 and above (between 76% and 80%). Strong support for renewables was highest for those aged 25 to 34 (58%, compared to the average of 46%).
• Strong support was highest in London (54%) and the South West (53%), however people living in the West Midlands (37%) and Wales (39%) were least likely to express strong support for renewables.
• The proportion saying they were opposed to renewables overall was higher for those living in the East of England (9%); in contrast it was lowest in the North West (2%), in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, London and the South West (all 3%), and in Northern Ireland (4%).

Support for different types of renewable energy

As shown in Figure 2.1 above, 80% of people in Spring 2025 supported renewable energy as an overall concept. However, levels of support vary when people were asked about specific types of renewables.

Respondents were asked to what extent they supported each of five different types of renewable energy sources. Figure 2.2 shows the results for the Spring 2022 baseline and the two most recent waves. The majority of people said they supported (support and strongly support) each type of renewable energy source, ranging from 86% for solar to 69% for biomass; a small proportion opposed each type.

Focussing on the proportions who said they supported or opposed each type of renewable energy source in Spring 2025:

• Solar energy remained the most supported option (86% overall support), with 4% opposing (up from 2% in Spring 2024).
• Support was similar for wave and tidal (81%) and offshore wind (80%); however, opposition was higher for offshore wind (5% up from 3% in Spring 2024) than for wave and tidal (3%).
• For onshore wind, 73% supported (down from 77% in Spring 2024), with opposition up to 8% from 5% in Spring 2024.
• Support remained lowest for biomass (69%), with 8% opposed (up from 6% in Spring 2024).

Figure 2.2: Whether support use of specific renewable energy developments (% based on all people), baseline (Spring 2022) and two most recent waves (Spring 2024 & Spring 2025)

RENEW2SUPPORTA-RENEW2SUPPORTE. Generally speaking, do you support or oppose the use of the following renewable energy developments…

*Biomass fuller wording: this refers to any plant or animal-based material (for example food waste, branches, sawdust) or purposely grown crops which can be burned to produce heat and electricity

Base: All wave respondents (Asked annually): Spring 2022 / Spring 2024 / Spring 2025:
Solar (4,317/4,062/3,388), Wave and tidal (4,311/4,064/3,382), Offshore wind (4,320/4,075/3,387),
Onshore wind (4,327/4,069/3,393), Biomass (4,296/4,065/3,374)

Analysis by subgroups

By age:

• Lower levels of support for the different types of renewable energy were observed among people aged 16 to 24. For example, 73% of people aged 16 to 24 supported offshore wind energy compared with between 80% and 85% of people in age groups 25 or over.
• People aged 65 or over were less likely than other age groups between 25 and 64 to support onshore wind energy (68% compared with between 75% and 76% of people in age groups 25 to 64) and solar energy (81% compared with between 89% and 90% of people in age groups 25 to 44).
• Opposition for onshore wind was highest among people aged 65 and over: 13% compared with between 4% and 8% of those in all other age groups under 65.

By geography:

• People living in the East of England were most likely to oppose all five types of renewable energy. For example, they were most likely to oppose solar energy (8% vs 4% overall) and onshore wind (14% vs 8% overall).
• Strong support tended to be higher in London and lower in the West Midlands for three types of renewable:
  • Solar energy (62% in London vs 44% in the West Midlands).
  • Offshore wind (53% in London and the South West vs 38% in the West Midlands and 37% in Northern Ireland).
  • Onshore wind (40% in London, Yorkshire the Humber and Scotland vs 29% in the East of England, 28% in the West Midlands and 25% in the North West).
• Strong support for biomass energy was highest in the South East (33%) and lowest in the East Midlands (23%).
• Strong support for wave and tidal was highest in the South West (52%) and Wales (50%) and lowest in Northern Ireland (37%).

Attitudes towards local wind farms

As shown in Figure 2.2 above, overall support for onshore wind declined in Spring 2025 compared with Spring 2024 from 77% to 73%. People were also asked about how happy they would be for an onshore wind farm to be constructed in their local area.

In Spring 2025, 37% of people said they would be happy for an onshore wind farm to be constructed in their local area, down from 43% in Spring 2024 (Figure 2.3). Correspondingly, the proportion who said they would be unhappy about this increased from 13% in Spring 2024 to 18% in Spring 2025. There was also a slight increase in the proportion of people saying they wouldn’t mind either way (31%, up from 28% in Spring 2024).

Figure 2.3: Whether would be happy for an onshore wind farm to be constructed in their local area (% based on all people), Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025

WINDFARM. Now imagine that there are plans for an onshore wind farm to be constructed in your local area. How happy or unhappy would you be about this? If you already have this in your local area, answer on the basis of how you feel about this now?

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024 / Spring 2025: (4,361/4,398/4,076/3,409)

Analysis by subgroups

Opposition to the construction of a local onshore windfarm (feeling very or fairly unhappy about this) was higher among the following subgroups:

• People in age groups 55 and over (between 22% and 25%) compared with those in age groups under 55 (between 10% and 15%).
• People living in the East of England (26%); in contrast opposition was lowest in Yorkshire and the Humber (12%) and in the North East and the West Midlands (both 14%).
• People living in rural areas (28%) compared with those in urban areas (16%).

Support for the construction of a local windfarm (feeling very or fairly happy about this) was highest in the South West (45%) and in Yorkshire and the Humber (44%).

Reasons for attitudes towards construction of windfarms

Respondents who said they would be happy or unhappy about the construction of a wind farm in their local area were prompted to choose their reasons for this opinion from a list of options.

In Spring 2025, the main reasons for feeling happy about a windfarm in the local area were broadly in line with Spring 2024: to provide a sustainable source of power (74%), to reduce emissions (68%), because it would lead to lower dependence on foreign energy sources (47%), because it would be cheaper than energy from fossil fuels (34%), and because it would create jobs (28% down from 34% in Spring 2024).

The main reasons for being unhappy about the construction of a local windfarm were also broadly in line with Spring 2024. Reasons included concerns about the impact on the view (62%), local plant and animal life (56%), house prices (40%), a lack of benefit to the local economy (32% up from 23%) and a concern that it would be expensive to produce energy this way (28% up from 20%).

Attitudes towards local solar farms

As shown in Figure 2.2 above, overall support for solar energy was 86%, a slight decrease since Spring 2024 (88%). People were also asked about how happy they would be for a solar farm to be constructed in their local area.

Compared with support for a local wind farm (37%), support for a local solar farm was higher (47% - Figure 2.4). However, similar to the pattern of support for windfarms, there was a decline in support for a local solar farm, from 53% in Spring 2024. Correspondingly, the proportion who said they would be unhappy about this increased from 9% in Spring 2024 to 14% in Spring 2025.

Figure 2.4: Whether would be happy for a solar panel farm to be constructed in their local area (% based on all people), Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025

SOLARFARM. Now imagine that there are plans for a solar panel farm to be constructed in your local area. How happy or unhappy would you be about this? If you already have this in your local area, answer on the basis of how you feel about this now?

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024 / Spring 2025: (4,369/4,396/4,080/3,412)

Analysis by subgroups

Support for the construction of a local solar farm (feeling very or fairly happy about this) was higher among the following groups:

• People aged 35 to 44 (54% said they were happy) and those in age groups 16 to 34 (both 50%), however support was lowest in those 65 and over (41%), followed by those aged 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 (46%, 45% respectively).
• Support was also higher in the South West (55%); in contrast it was lowest in the North East (40%), the North West (43%) and in Yorkshire and the Humber and the East of England (both 44%).

Opposition to the construction of a local solar farm (feeling very or fairly unhappy about this) was higher among the following groups:

• Those living in the East of England (20%), East Midlands (18%) and the South West (17%); in contrast opposition was lowest in London (9%).
• People living in rural areas (24%) compared with those in urban areas (12%). In terms of support, there was no significant difference between urban and rural respondents (48% vs 44%).

Reasons for attitudes towards construction of solar farms

Respondents who said they would be happy or unhappy about the construction of a solar panel farm in their local area were prompted to choose their reasons for this opinion from a list of options.

In Spring 2025, the main reasons for supporting the idea of a local solar panel farm were broadly in line with Spring 2024: to provide a sustainable source of power (76%) to reduce emissions (69%), because it would lead to lower dependence on foreign energy sources (48%), because it would be cheaper than energy from fossil fuels (38%), and because it would benefit the local community (29%).

The main reasons for opposing the construction of a local solar panel farm centred on concerns about the loss in fertile and agricultural land (63%)^{[footnote 1]}, on local plant and animal life (57%), on the view (51%), a lack of benefit to the local economy (34%), and a concern that it would be expensive to produce energy this way (29% up from 21%).

Attitudes towards renewable energy

As shown in Figure 2.5, people were less likely than in Spring 2024 to agree overall that renewable energy industries and developments provide economic benefits to the UK (69% down from 74%). Overall disagreement with this statement increased to 8% in Spring 2025 from 4% in Spring 2024.

Overall, 80% agreed that it is important that renewable energy developments provide direct benefit to the communities in which they are located, with 54% agreeing strongly (unchanged since Spring 2024).

Figure 2.5: Attitudes towards renewable energy (% based on all people), baseline (Spring 2022) and two most recent waves (Spring 2024 & Spring 2025)

RENEWATT. As mentioned, renewable energy covers a number of different forms, including wind power, solar energy and biomass. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2022 / Spring 2024 / Spring 2025: Renewable energy industries and developments provide economic benefits to the UK (4,344/4,079/3,402); It’s important that renewable energy developments provide direct benefit to the communities in which they are located (4,328/4,067/3,393)

Analysis by subgroups

By age:

• People aged 65 and over (65%) were least likely to agree that renewable energy provides economic benefits to the UK, especially compared to those aged 25 to 34 (73%).
• People in the youngest age group 16 to 24 (48%) were least likely to strongly agree that renewable energy should directly benefit communities where they are located, especially compared to those in age groups 55 and over (between 54% and 57%).

By geography:

• Agreement that renewable energy provides economic benefits to the UK was highest in Yorkshire and the Humber and the South West (both 76%) and in London (74%) and lowest in the East of England the North West (both 63%).
• Strong agreement that renewable energy should directly benefit communities was highest in Yorkshire and the Humber (66%) and lowest in London (48%) and the South East (49%).

By knowledge of Net Zero:

• People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero (77%) were more likely than those who knew a little or hardly anything (61%) or who were not aware of Net Zero (58%) to agree that renewable energy provides economic benefits to the UK.
• There was a similar pattern in agreement that renewable energy should directly benefit communities where they are located from 83% of those who knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero to 69% who were not aware of it.

Great British Energy

A new question was introduced in Winter 2024 about Great British Energy (GBE), a government initiative set out in 2024. Respondents were provided with a brief description as follows: ‘The UK government has set up a publicly owned, clean energy company, called Great British Energy. Great British Energy will operate in all four nations of the UK’.

In Spring 2025, there was no change in the levels of awareness or knowledge compared with those seen in Winter 2024: 60% said they were aware of GBE (Figure 2.6). Levels of knowledge remained low, with 11% saying they knew a lot or a fair amount about it. Around a quarter said they knew a little (26%) about GBE, while 22% said they knew hardly anything.

Figure 2.6: Awareness of Great British Energy (% based on all people), Winter 2024, Spring 2025

GBEKNOW. Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about Great British Energy?

Base: All wave respondents – Winter 2024 (3,212), Spring 2025 (3,409)

Analysis by subgroups

Overall awareness of GBE was higher among the following subgroups:

• People with a degree: 63% compared with 56% of those with no qualifications.
• People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero: 72% compared with 51% of those knowing a little or hardly anything and 35% of those unaware of Net Zero.
• People living in Scotland (68%) and the North West (65%); in contrast the lowest levels of awareness were reported in the North East (48%) and Northern Ireland (50%).

Self-reported knowledge (knowing a lot or a fair amount) about GBE was higher among the following subgroups:

• People with a degree: 15% compared with 8% of those with no qualifications.
• People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero: 20% compared with those who know a little or hardly anything and those unaware of Net Zero (both 3%).
• People living in London and Scotland (both 15%); in contrast the lowest levels were reported in Northern Ireland, Wales, the East Midlands and the West Midlands (all 8%).

Clean Power 2030

A new question was introduced in Spring 2025 about the government’s new clean power goal. Respondents were provided with a brief description as follows: ‘One of the government’s goals is to achieve Clean Power by 2030. This means generating at least 95% of electricity in Great Britain from clean sources, like wind and solar, by 2030’.

In Spring 2025, 83% said they were aware of Clean Power 2030, while 29% said they knew a lot or a fair amount (Figure 2.7).

Figure 2.7: Awareness of Clean Power 2030 (% based on all people), Spring 2025

CLEANPOWER2030. Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about this?

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2025 (3,411)

Analysis by subgroups

Overall awareness of Clean Power 2030 was higher among the following subgroups:

• People in age groups 55 and over (between 88% and 93%) compared with those in age groups under 45 (between 69% and 80%); awareness was lowest for those aged 25 to 34 (69%).
• People reporting that they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero: 93% compared with 47% of those unaware of Net Zero.
• People living in the East Midlands (92%) and the South West (88%); in contrast the lowest levels of awareness were reported in the West Midlands (75%) and Northern Ireland (78%).

Self-reported knowledge (knowing a lot or a fair amount) about Clean Power 2030 was higher among the following subgroups:

• People aged 65 and over (45%) compared with those in age groups under 55 (between 17% and 25%).
• People with a degree: 35% compared with 26% of those with another kind of qualification and 21% of those with no qualifications.
• People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero: 47% compared with 10% of those who know a little or hardly anything and 4% of those unaware of Net Zero.
• People living in Scotland (37%); in contrast the lowest levels were reported in Northern Ireland (22%) and the West Midlands (23%).

1. This option was added in Spring 2025, based on open text data collected within the ‘Other’ response in the Spring 2024 wave. ↩