Plans for the UK to use renewable energy to generate electricity, fuel and heat appear to be popular with most consumers.

A survey by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) found that almost four out of five people support the idea, while just 4% of the 2,107 individuals polled voiced their objection to it.

The findings are consistent with the previous three attitude surveys conducted by the Government.

Solar energy was found to have the highest level of support, with 82% of people throwing their backing behind this form of technology. Michael Verity, Head of Resources and Energy at Strutt & Parker says that we will see much more Solar PV being installed over the next 12 to 24 months now that we have a stable support policy and evidence that it performs better than expected in the UK. He says that solar PV could become common on houses and businesses as it is in countries such as Germany.

Offshore wind was also popular, with a 72% approval rating recorded, and wave and tidal arrays had 71% of people's backing.

One of the most significant findings to come out of the research was the fact that two-thirds of respondents were in favour of onshore wind farms, while only 13% were opposed to them.

This is despite a high profile media campaign attacking the technology, and Jennifer Webber, director of external affairs at trade body RenewableUK, said the numbers prove opposition to wind farms is hugely over-stated.

"It just shows what we have consistently said: that there is a very vocal minority opposed and the majority of people support wind farms," she told BusinessGreen.

"These figures should give politicians confidence to give their support to onshore wind."

Mr Verity added that onshore wind is an important part of the energy mix and that developers are now much more sophisticated in choosing sites so as to minimise impacts but like all major developments, whether a road or the new HS2, a wind farm proposal will have a perceived impact in the immediate locality when first announced.

Meanwhile, in comparison to renewable energy, just 37% of people support nuclear energy, with 25% opposing it.

In addition, 67% of respondents expressed worries that UK supplies of fossil fuels are not sufficient to meet future demands across the nation, while 88% are very concerned or fairly concerned at steep rises in energy prices in the next 10 to 20 years.

The findings from the latest DECC survey match a series of polls from various sources carried out over the last year, showing strong public support for renewable energy.

These studies also point out that the regions returning the highest approval ratings for renewable energy projects tend to be those where there are large numbers of wind turbines, such as Scotland.