Photovoltaics is the preferred driver of the energy turnaround - Photovoltaics is the preferred driver of the energy turnaround

Published on: August 20, 2020 / Update from: August 21, 2020 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

The energy transition has long been a decision in Germany and photovoltaics is of crucial importance. What is pleasing is that this is also reflected in a high acceptance rate among the population.

The energy turnaround has long since been decided in Germany, and photovoltaics will play a decisive role in this. It is pleasing that this is also reflected in a high acceptance rate among the population.

Photovoltaics for the energy transition – @shutterstock | Air Images

The high approval ratings for renewable energies are demonstrated by the Nature Awareness 2019 study , which was carried out by the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation at the end of last year. Accordingly, general support for the energy transition among the population is high: 60 percent think it is right, while only nine percent see it critically.

Photovoltaics most popular option

The public opinion on solar energy is even better. A large majority of 93 percent are in favor of photovoltaic systems on and around buildings. Among those surveyed, 58 percent said they liked these systems, while another 35 percent accepted them. This means that building-based photovoltaics takes a leading position among the green options for generating energy. Compared to offshore wind turbines (78 percent rate them positively or as acceptable), their onshore counterparts (70 percent) and biogas plants (61 percent), photovoltaic technology is far ahead.

At the same time, the study shows that there is still a lot of catching up to do in terms of public acceptance of outdoor systems for generating solar energy. With an overall approval rating of 61 percent, these are in the middle of the range of systems. This shows that the majority of the population supports technologies that involve relatively gentle interventions in nature.

At the same time, it is clear that the topic of sustainable energy is now attracting interest from all sections of the population. Compared to previous years, general approval has also increased in socially weaker environments. This shows that the energy transition is not only technically and economically possible, but also wanted on a broad social basis.

The high approval ratings for renewable energies are confirmed by the study Nature Awareness 2019 , which was carried out by the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation at the end of last year. According to the study, the general approval for the energy turnaround is high among the population: 60 percent consider it to be right, while only nine percent view it critically.

Photovoltaics most popular option

Public opinion on solar energy is even better. With 93 percent, a broad majority of people are in favor of photovoltaic systems on and around buildings. Among those surveyed, 58 percent said they liked these systems, while another 35 percent accepted them. Building-based photovoltaics thus occupies a leading position among the green options for energy generation. In comparison to offshore wind turbines (78 percent rated them positively or as acceptable), their onshore counterparts (70 percent) and biogas plants (61 percent), photovoltaic technology is thus far ahead.

At the same time, the study shows that there is still a backlog in public acceptance of ground-mounted solar energy plants. With an overall approval rate of 61 percent, these are in the midfield of the systems. This shows that the majority of the population votes in favor of technologies that can manage with relatively gentle interventions in nature.

At the same time, it is clear that the topic of sustainable energy is now attracting interest from all sections of the population. Compared to previous years, general approval has increased even in socially weaker milieus. This shows that energy system transformation is not only technically and economically feasible, but is also desired by society at large.