http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/articles/i/5377/?cid=3

 

A large majority - 85% - of global consumers want more renewable energy, according to a survey by TNS Gallup for Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas.

 

The Global Consumer Wind Study 2012 (GCWS), which surveyed 24,000 consumers in 20 countries, also reports that 62% of respondents said they would pay more for products from brands using wind power.

"The trend of private companies investing in renewable energy is very positive," says Morten Albaek of Vestas. "We have already seen many companies such as IKEA purchasing wind turbines as part of a commitment to get all of its energy from renewable sources, and recently Aviva, the UK's largest insurance group invested in a wind power plant in Spain."

The findings have been welcomed by the UK's renewable power trade body, RenewableUK.

"This report provides clear evidence that there is a huge public appetite around the world for more of our electricity to be generated from wind rather than fossil fuels," says deputy chief executive Maf Smith.

In fact, according to the study, only 7% of those surveyed want to see electricity generated from fossil fuels and 78% of UK respondents expressed concern over the country's dependence on gas, oil and coal.

"The overwhelming majority of consumers are demanding more wind energy - and that can be a driving force for change, powering our economy and tackling climate change. That's why more and more top companies are opting to use wind power," adds Smith.

According to the Corporate Renewable Energy Index (CREX), which lists companies that voluntarily purchase renewable power, there is a slight upward trend in corporate purchasing habits.

But as yet, progress is slow. Most companies purchase less than 5% renewable power with only 36 companies souring all their electricity from renewable sources.