Executive Summary
- A telephone market research public opinion survey was carried out in July 2010, and again in July/August 2012, among residents, workers, small business owners, opinion leaders and 2nd home owners in Wells-next-the-Sea.
- Awareness of Scira Offshore Energy is extremely high across the sample, with a total of 89% of respondents having heard of the company, up from 67% in 2010. Compared to other energy providers, awareness of Scira was very strong, being third in place behind E-on (94%) and EDF (91%), both high profile energy providers in the region, and ahead of N-power and Centrica.
- A total of 72% associated Scira Offshore Energy with wind farm energy, up from 49% in 2010, and substantially ahead of other energy providers, with 15% for EDF and 13% for E-on. Again, this high score was consistent across the different respondent types.
- On being read a list of wind farm projects, at 99% almost all were aware of Sheringham Shoal (up from 92% in 2010), 59% of Scroby Sands and 66% of Docking shoal. Awareness was substantially lower for other wind farm projects in the region.
- Respondents were presented with a list of possible reasons for the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm being located where it is. Consistent with the same survey in 2010, many felt 'Harbour facilities' to be the main reason (70%), with 'Proximity to windfarm site' being the next highest mention at 54%.
