A Delicate Balance: Public Perception and Renewable Energy Infrastructure

Energy and sustainability are at the forefront of national and global discussion. The increasing focus on energy infrastructure resilience and renewal, driven by heightened environmental awareness, the electrification of transport and heating, coupled with volatile gas prices and reliance on imported energy, highlights the urgency of action and investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

While support for renewable energy remains high, with 82% of the public backing its use and 80% expressing concern over climate change, public perception plays a critical role in renewable energy projects and all energy infrastructure schemes facing resistance. As Theresa May MP recently stated, such a move (to abandon the UK’s net-zero target) would harm future generations and result in greater costs over time.

For Temple, this is more than just an industry challenge, it is a core aspect of our work. Our expertise in stakeholder engagement alongside planning and infrastructure means we understand that transitioning to renewable energy isn’t just about technology and policy; it is about people. If we fail to engage meaningfully with communities and decision-makers, even the most well-planned projects will struggle.

The Challenge of Public Perception

Despite such widespread support for renewables, large-scale projects often face scepticism, misinformation and opposition. While concerns over climate change remain high, there has been a slight decline in perceived urgency by the public, with concern levels dropping from 85% in Autumn 2021 to 80% in early 2024.  This shift highlights the importance of proactive engagement to sustain trust, advocacy and, therefore, momentum.

A key risk in today’s landscape is the temptation to revert to a “decide-announce-defend” approach, where projects are initiated and approved before meaningful public engagement. This strategy often leads to public backlash, protest and – critically – long-term reputational damage, ultimately slowing down progress towards net-zero goals.

Building Trust Through Meaningful Engagement

Stakeholder engagement must be more than a ‘tick-box’ exercise; it needs to start in good time and be a continuous, transparent, and adaptive process.  The importance of stakeholder engagement is two-fold:

• For people and host communities – ensuring that those affected by infrastructure and development projects feel heard, valued, and involved in shaping their local environment.
• To improve projects – strong stakeholder relationships lead to better project outcomes, reducing risks, enhancing social acceptance, and fostering long-term success as well as timely decisions.

Three core principles define effective public engagement:

• Engage early and transparently – providing clear, timely and accessible information about project goals, benefits, and impacts fosters trust and reduces uncertainty.
• Inclusive and ongoing dialogue – engaging communities earlier, through town hall meetings, workshops, and digital platforms – ensure that diverse voices are heard and considered.
• Clear recognition of benefits and impacts – addressing both advantages and potential disruptions of the projects openly helps create a more balanced construction conversation.

Moving from uncertainty to opportunity

The future of renewable energy is not just about infrastructure, it’s about people.  Addressing public perception challenges requires a long-term commitment to listening, understanding, and adapting to local needs. Successful projects are those that actively involve communities, provide clear benefits, and communicate their purpose and vision effectively.

At Temple, we believe that renewable energy infrastructure is only as strong as the connections built with the communities that host them. Through genuine, thoughtful engagement, we can help clients and communities bridge the gap between the promise of renewable energy and the reality of public perception, supported by informed debate.

Temple plays a crucial role in supporting the development of energy infrastructure by providing expert environmental consultancy services. Our work includes:

• Stakeholder and Community Engagement and Consultation: Facilitating meaningful conversations between developers, policymakers, and the public to ensure projects align with community needs and deliver value for local communities and stakeholders.
• Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): Making use of the EIA regulations to establish how to protect and enhance local communities through meaningful engagement
• Environmental Management and Consenting: Assisting clients in navigating complex consenting processes such as Hybrid Bills, Transport and Works Act Order (TWAOs), Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and other regulatory requirements such that the concerns of communities and stakeholders are being reflected into project delivery.

Temple has contributed to significant infrastructure projects, including High Speed 2 (HS2), the Strategic Pipeline Alliance for Anglian Water, East West Rail, and DCO advisory services for gas pipeline developments. These projects underscore our ability to help clients balance infrastructure expansion with environmental enhancement and effective public engagement.

It is time to embrace this uncertainty and turn it into an opportunity through meaningful collaboration and a shared vision for the future.