Executive Summary
- A telephone market research public opinion survey was carried out in July 2010 among residents, workers, small business owners, opinion leaders and second home owners in Wells-next-the-Sea.
- Awareness of Scira Offshore Energy is high, with a total of 67% of respondents having heard of the company. Awareness was highest among Opinion Leaders (90%) and lowest among employees in the area (53%). This was third in place behind E-on (93%) and EDF (87%) which are both high profile energy providers in the region.
- A total of 49% associated Scira Offshore Energy with wind farm energy, which was substantially ahead of others energy providers, all with between 11-15% associating them with wind farm energy. Opinion leaders most strongly associated Scira with wind farm energy, at 86%, and small business owners at 60%.
- On being read a list of wind farm projects, 92% were aware of Sheringham Shoal, 64% of Scroby Sands and 54% of Docking Shoal. Awareness was substantially lower for other wind farm projects.
- Respondents were presented with a list of possible reasons for the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm being located where it is. Many felt 'Harbour facilities' to be the main reason, although small business owners and employees in Wells felt that commercial reasons played more of a role in the location, including the availability of local suppliers and assistance of the local authority.
