88% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude towards solar and wind energy, and 64% consider the development of renewable energy sources (RES) the best solution for Ukraine — primarily due to the desire for autonomy and guarantees of a stable electricity supply. However, despite this support, real-world implementation is still constrained by informational, financial, and infrastructure barriers.
This is evidenced by public opinion research conducted by the communications agency Power of Place with the support of the European Climate Foundation.
Key findings of the study:
Energy is among the country’s most pressing issues, though it lags far behind the key topics: the war (85%), corruption (55%), and the economy (52%). 22% of Ukrainians cite power outages and the cost of electricity as some of today’s key challenges.
Stability of supply is an absolute priority for Ukrainians (83%). In second place is the cost of electricity (76%), followed by autonomy in the event of outages (70%).
At the national level, Ukrainians expect resilience from the energy sector (85%), energy independence (78%), as well as transparent pricing, safety, and rapid recovery.
Ukrainians receive information on important topics, including energy, through social media (68%) and messaging apps (62%).
All respondents trust “their own” the most: relatives and friends (35%), as well as experts (26%) and the military and veterans (25%).
The report goes beyond a simple “for or against” and shows how Ukrainians see the role of renewable energy in their security, community autonomy, and the country’s future reconstruction. The study will be useful for businesses, public authorities, donors, communications professionals, and everyone working on energy, recovery, and community development.
National survey: Ukrainians associate renewable energy with community autonomy and energy independence
