Solar is favourite energy choice for Australians, while climate deniers prefer nuclear and coal
Bungala solar farm
Joshua S Hill
Apr 29, 2025
Renewables, Wind
Seven out of 10 Australians want to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, according to the results of a new survey published on Tuesday. And, while only a small percentage of respondents denied the existence of human caused climate change, that cohort are unsurprisingly more likely to prefer nuclear and coal power.
A new national survey of 1,000 Australians by research giant YouGov that was commissioned by environmental services firm Veolia ANZ found that 71 per cent of Australians believe that we need to shift more quickly to renewable energy.
It found 75 per cent of respondents thought that switching to renewable energy will help combat climate change, although 52 per cent have concerns about grid reliability, increased energy costs, and the levels of capital needed for the transition.
Only 38 per cent of those surveyed said that they were not at all concerned about changing to renewable energy.
YouGov asked respondents to list their top five preferred energy sources for the national electricity grid, and found that 73 per cent selected rooftop solar within their top five preferred energy sources. This was followed by 71 per cent who selected solar farms, 68 per cent for hydroelectricity, and 60 per cent for wind farms.
Even biogas (51 per cent) secured greater prominence amongst public preference than fossil fuels which saw only 35 per cent of respondents select gas-fired power in their top five energy sources and 31 per cent select coal-fired power.
And, demonstrating the Australian public’s attitude towards Peter Dutton’s proposed nuclear fantasy, only 39 per cent of respondents placed nuclear in their top five preferred energy sources.
It’s uncertain what the 4 per cent who selected “none of these” energy sources believe should be powering everyday life.
YouGov also asked respondents about climate change, with 86 per cent of respondents who believe that climate change is real saying that humans do play a role.
Interestingly, only 3 per cent of respondents said that there is no climate change, and 11 per cent of people who believe there is climate change lay the blame at the feet of natural causes.
Those respondents who do not believe in human caused climate change were unsurprisingly more likely to prefer nuclear (63 per cent) and coal (62 per cent) in their energy mix, although they also showed a surprising fondness for hydroelectricity (68 per cent) and rooftop solar (61 per cent).
Wind energy, however, was the least trusted energy generation technology by those who do not believe in human caused climate change, with only 30 per cent putting wind power in their top five preferred energy sources.
“We know Australia has all of the ingredients to lead the global renewable energy transition with abundant natural resources like sunlight and wind, and advanced technology,” said Richard Kirkman, Veolia ANZ CEO and managing director.
“This survey reveals there is also strong public support for it as well,” adding that “Australians want a sustainable energy future, but they also need assurance about reliability and affordability.”
Still, the survey also showed that 82 per cent of Australians believe that they are paying too much for electricity today, even though some 74 per cent say they remain satisfied with their current electricity services, and 67 per cent agreeing that they have reliable electricity.
The survey also queried respondents on their concerns about renewable energy sources being built “nearby”, and a multitude of responses demonstrated much of the confusion at play with regards to the clean energy transition.
The responses were varied, and therefore no particular issue was highlighted by a majority of respondents, but the list of concerns included: - Negative impacts on the environment
- Health impacts
- Loss of useful land and land clearing
- Pollution risks
- Lack of consultation
- Loss of visual amenity
- Installation of transmission lines
- Decrease in property values
- Noise
- Increased vehicle movements
Of those who deny human caused climate change, the top three concerns about renewables were the loss of useful land and land clearing (50 per cent), negative impacts on the environment (42 per cent), and Decrease in property values (39 per cent).
Respondents were also asked at what distance they could comfortably live from a range of power generation sources.
Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of respondents said they were happy to live within 5 kilometres of rooftop solar, but that was the only energy source to receive anything close to over 50 per cent approval at any distance, out to over 51 kilometres.
This was true for both clean energy sources, fossil fuels, and nuclear. Clean energy sources were more likely to be accepted closer than fossil fuels and nuclear, but the overall takeaway is that nobody really wants to be living near any energy generation source.
However, 62 per cent of respondents said would not feel comfortable with a nuclear power plant within 50 kilometres of where they live, or don’t want them built at all. There was similar antipathy towards coal (51 per cent) and natural gas (47 per cent).
A total of 35 per cent of respondents don’t want nuclear plants to be built at all, and 26 per cent say they don’t want another coal-fired power station to be built in Australia.
Those who don’t believe in human caused climate change, however, appear to be willing to put their money where their mouth is, with 26 per cent of these saying they would be comfortable living within 5 kilometres of a coal-fired power plant and 22 per cent within 5 kilometres of a nuclear power plant.
Conversely, 54 per cent of these climate change deniers would not feed comfortable living closer than 50 kilometres from a wind farm or wouldn’t want it built at all.
reneweconomy.com.au |
