Intelligent Community Energy Project Deliverable T5.2.1 - Consumer Engagement in Ushant

A total of four surveys were conducted in the framework of the ICE project with residents of Ushant concerning their perception of the island’s energy transition. The surveys enabled a solid measurement of perception of the energy transition of Ushant’s population, in the particular context of the island, such as for instance the tariff equalization for electricity which leads to a prevalence of electrical heating, and electricity as the primary power source.
The insular nature of Ushant means that residents are very well-informed of the way electricity is produced, as the fuel-powered power station is in their close environment. Whilst some people are not against this production method, a vast majority of people are well aware that the use of fuel crates large levels of pollution.
The perception of renewable energies is very positive on the whole with 100% of respondents stating they were in favour of solar energy; 80%-90% of respondents stating they were in favour of tidal energy which was, however, under-developed, but where Ushant is a pilot site. Around 50% of respondents were in favour of wind energy in 2021, however, there was a drastic drop compared to 2018 where around 80% of people were in favour of this. This drop can be explained by the emergence of the project led in conjunction with a private company, which provides three energy sources (wind, solar and tidal), and which was developed in 2020-2021 and led to a much more marked opinion
with residents as to the subject of wind power. The high cost of electricity production on the island makes it easier to launch pilot programmes on the issue of energy (savings, production, change in uses). Several residents expressed a clear interest in such pilots, with a view to being involved in the energy transition of their island. An initiative allowing residents to be involved in collective citizen projects is currently being launched, at present focusing on group purchases (fuel, appliances) and with the aim of moving towards collective citizen projects for the production of renewable energies, notably using solar power.