80% of Mediterranean citizen respondents think that it’s necessary to produce energy from renewable energies

BLUE DEAL project developed a survey on the perception and attitude towards Blue Energies (BE) and technologies to harness it and target the general public. 

This survey, which has received more than 2,000 responses, aimed to analyze the opinion of the population of the coastal area on their perception of BE, their knowledge of new renewable energy sources, and the new technologies for their deployment.  

To present the results obtained in this survey, an event was carried out in Siena where more than 300 people participated personally and virtually. “There has always been a dialogue between the sea and humans and we have listened to the opinions 2,111 people who live of the sea and by the sea”, said Professor Simone Bastianoni, BLUE DEAL  during the “Ask your citizen on Blue Energy“ event.

This survey has been conducted in 9 Mediterranean regions through a common questionnaire and interviews in Čiovo (Croatia), Hersonissos (Greece), Durres (Albania), Kalkara and Xghajra (Malta), Larnaca (Cyprus), Salobreña and Pobla de Farnals (Spain) and Isola del and Civitavecchia (Italy).

This study revealed that almost 60% of respondents are aware of the concerns related to climate change and believe it’s necessary to take measures to mitigate the problem but 56% have no knowledge of marine renewable energies.

The comparison between the results of the survey in different locations underlined the different perceptions between the various territories that participated in the study.

One thing that is almost unanimous, with more than 80% of the results, is the need to produce energy from renewable energies in order to reduce environmental impact.

The survey has the potential to become a model for its replication in other countries and these numbers can be the starting point for the administrators who decide to invest in Blue Energy in their own territory.

During the presentation event, speakers highlighted the great opportunity that blue energy represents for the islands to ensure their energy independence which is the basis of political and economic strengthening.

All the key results obtained by the survey can be consulted at the digital platform http://askyourcitizenonbe.unisi.it/