Survey: Lithuanian residents now associate the energy sector with renewable energy sources more often

Over the year, the number of Lithuanian residents who associate the Lithuanian energy sector with renewable energy sources has grown. Such association is more prevalent among students. This was shown in a survey conducted in April by KOG Institute for Marketing and Communication Sciences at the initiative of Ignitis Group, a renewables-focused integrated utility. The survey also nodded towards an annual decrease in respondents who associate Lithuanian energy sector with natural gas.

In 2022, 7% of the surveyed students associated the Lithuanian energy sector with renewable energy sources. This year, the number of students who think so has more than doubled to 16%. The survey also revealed that, while last year 5% of students associated the energy sector with natural gas, this year this number is just 2%.

41% of the surveyed students believe that Lithuanian energy sector is eco-friendly and environmentally friendly. Last year only 5% of the surveyed students described the energy sector that way.

“Renewable energy facilitates the energy smart world. Considering the energy transition acceleration and tendencies that are influenced by the development of onshore and offshore wind farms, hydrogen technologies and many other innovations, we have to constantly remind ourselves that Lithuania and the entire region requires a new generation of energy professionals to implement all this. And so we are working hard to attract young people, trying to get them interested in energy and choose this promising field. We are glad to see a positive change already,” said the Head of #EnergySmartSTART Programme (which includes various initiatives of energy companies) Giedrė Žlibinienė.

According to Giedrė, 65% of the surveyed Lithuanian residents consider the energy sector to be promising and growing rapidly. Also, 51% of the surveyed believe that the sector is developing innovations and introducing innovative solutions to the market.  59% of the students we surveyed agree to this statement. More than half of the surveyed students also agree with the statement that the energy sector offers professional career opportunities (a 58% and 60% split between students in universities and schools respectively).

“Energy professionals with broad experience are being head-hunted worldwide. The energy sector has stopped being just a network of pipes and lines a long time ago. Today we see a conjunction of innovations, IT and environmental efforts. The Lithuanian energy sector is increasingly being perceived as promising, innovative and contributing to the country's economic prosperity. The demand for engineers and technologists is growing every year. It is estimated that Lithuania alone will require at least 2,500 additional specialists by 2030,” notes G. Žlibinienė.

Students and anyone who is actively thinking about choosing a professional career in the field or who wants to know more about the energy sector can do so with the help of the #EnergySmartSTART programme. The programme’s goals are to engage people and involve them in the creation of the energy sector, encourage them to be energy smart and popularise the fields of study that are strategically important to the energy sector. The programme involves several initiatives, including educational trips for students to energy facilities, lectures at Lithuanian schools, etc.

The survey of Lithuanian residents’ view on the energy sector was conducted in April by KOG Institute for Marketing and Communication Sciences at the initiative of Ignitis Group. A representative group of 1,000 Lithuanian residents from 16 to 64 years old have participated in the survey. Additionally, 210 students in grades 9 to12 and 256 university students also took the survey.