Energy is no issue for Czechs, 75% are not interested

This year's survey by the Public Opinion Research Centre (CVVM) shows that three-quarters of Czech residents are not interested in energy. They oppose lifting coal mining limits, but support the modernisation and continued operation of coal-fired power plants. They also support financial incentives for the use of renewable energy sources.

After publishing a survey mapping the attitudes of the Czech population towards nuclear energy, CVVM released another part of its research covering energy in its full breadth. The questions covered both coal-fired power generation and public support for financial incentives for the use of renewable energy sources.

One of the important topics in the questionnaire was the general interest of Czechs in energy. The results show that only 24% of residents are interested in energy in Czechia. In total, one-third of respondents said they were not interested in energy at all, while 42% were rather uninterested. Year on year, the lack of interest in energy in Czechia has deepened slightly, mainly due to an increase in the number of people who are not interested in energy at all.

Nevertheless, the survey shows that, in addition to nuclear power plants, Czechs also have a positive view of coal-fired power plants. Nearly half of respondents agree that coal-fired power plants in Czechia should be modernised and operated for as long as possible.

However, they take the opposite view on lifting coal mining limits. A total of 27% of residents supported lifting the limits, while 46% opposed it.

The attitudes of Czechs towards decentralised energy also correspond to their views on coal and nuclear energy. The question asked in the questionnaire was whether the respondent agreed with the statement that „electricity and heat generation in smaller local facilities will in the future prevail over generation in large power plants and heating plants„. Despite a relatively high share of don't know responses, residents tend to believe that energy will remain centralised (disagreement with the above statement).

Also quite interesting is the attitude towards financial support for the use of renewable energy sources, which is supported by 68% of residents. Given the past, when high levels of support for renewable energy sources were offered in some cases, and the renewable energy levy is a significant component of the electricity price, this public attitude is an interesting result.