Sustainability Concerns are Key to Understanding Public Attitudes Toward Woody Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source : Results from a Questionnaire Study of the General Public in Denmark

Woody biomass energy makes up a large share of renewable energy consumption in the EU, and the largest share in countries like Denmark. However, little is known about how the public perceive it. This paper presents the results of a questionnaire-based survey of the public in Denmark focusing on attitudes toward woody biomass energy. The main findings are that, while more people favor than oppose it, a large proportion are undecided about the use of woody biomass. The survey also revealed a lack of knowledge about this energy source. A Best Worst Scaling methodology revealed that Danes prioritize environmental sustainability concerns – namely biodiversity loss, the hindering of the development of other renewable energy sources and the climate change mitigation potential of woody biomass – over societal and/or economic ones when it comes to the promotion of woody biomass for energy. Finally, it was found that concern about climate change, belief in the mitigation potential of woody biomass, and age explained the formation of positive attitudes toward woody biomass. Policymakers aiming to take the public’s concerns into account in discussions about Denmark’s energy future should emphasize the minimization of negative environmental impacts associated with woody biomass rather than economic benefits