Coalition supporters back quicker shift to renewable energy.

The wisdom of a campaign by the Turnbull government emphasising the risks of moving too rapidly to renewable energy has been thrown into question by polling that suggests a majority of its supporters don’t agree.

Left-leaning think-tank the Australia Institute surveyed 1420 voters on whether the country was moving too slowly or too quickly in embracing renewable sources wind and solar.

It found two-thirds of voters – and 55 per cent of those who identified as Coalition voters – believed the shift was too slow. Only 9 per cent – and 17 per cent of Coalition supporters – said it was happening too fast.

Forty-five per cent believed electricity prices would go up if the national renewable energy target of about 23.5 per cent by 2020 was abolished. Only 19 per cent thought bills would go down.

Again, Coalition supporters were broadly in step with the majority: 41 per cent said ending the target – a step floated by former prime minister Tony Abbott, among others – would actually push up prices; 23 per cent believed they would come down.

Go faster? A new poll suggests more wind and solar power is wanted, sooner. Photo: Supplied

The support for clean energy is consistent with a Fairfax/Ipsos Poll a fortnight ago that found a third of voters believed the country should continue to use coal-fired power, and 61 per cent said it was time to turn to other sources.

Australia Institute executive director Ben Oquist said clean options were becoming increasingly economically and politically attractive as the price of renewable energy and battery storage came down.

“The war on renewables looks like the political version of the Somme. Furious attacks have not made any ground on the popularity of renewable energy,” he said.

The Australia Institute poll did not test whether views on clean energy would change how people voted.

It found a narrow majority of voters (52 per cent) backed an increase of the renewable energy target, while only 9 per cent wanted it cut.

A clearer majority (73 per cent) supported the introduction of a higher target for 2030.

More than three-quarters of voters (77 per cent) supported state renewable energy targets to drive further investment. Neither question considered what more ambitious policies would cost. (See data tables at the end of this story.)

Mr Turnbull advocates a “technology neutral” approach to the electricity system as it is transformed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet international climate targets.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan is championing taxpayers funding a new coal-fired power plant in Queensland, but recent announcements – including a potential $2 billion expansion of the Snowy Hydro Scheme – have favoured cleaner technology.

Reviews are being held this year into energy security (led by chief scientist Alan Finkel) and climate change policy (by the Environment Department).

The Australia Institute is campaigning for changes to national electricity market rules to help renewable energy, battery storage and schemes that reduce demand at peak times.

They include the introduction of a “five-minute rule” that allows electricity to be sold into the market at a price that reflects its value for that amount of time. The price is currently averaged over 30 minutes.