Public Attitudes Towards State Support for Renewable Energy Business: Demographic and Socioeconomic Differences in the Perception of Sustainable Energy Policies

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript entitled “Public Attitudes Towards State Support for Renewable Energy Business: Demographic and Socioeconomic Differences in the Perception of Sustainable Energy Policies” investigates public attitudes towards state support for renewable energy businesses in Poland using a nationwide survey of 1,000 respondents and develops a structured latent construct to measure societal expectations of pro-RES policies. Unlike most previous studies that focused mainly on household-level adoption, this study shifts attention to how citizens perceive government support for green enterprises, which is a relevant and timely perspective for energy policy design. The topic is timely and relevant, aligned well journal scope. These insights are useful for policymakers aiming to design socially acceptable and targeted support mechanisms for accelerating Poland’s energy transition. However, the manuscript in current form needs a bit improvement before accepted for the publication.

1. The abstract is clear, but it is a bit too long and summarises background more than findings. Try to reduce the general background and add specific numerical highlights (e.g., percentage support levels, key demographic differences).
2. Several claims in the manuscript require proper citation. The authors are encouraged to add relevant references to strengthen these points.
3. The discussion around renewable-energy business support could benefit from connecting the policy and public-perception findings with broader technological trends in hybrid clean-energy systems. For instance, hydrogen based renewable energy systems or integrated thermoelectric–desalination technologies provide useful insights into how advanced energy technologies shape public narratives and expectations. Including a brief reference to such works may strengthen the technological background of the paper.
   • Fuel Cell and Hydrogen based Hybrid Energy Conversion Technologies (doi: 10.1201/9781032656212-9)
   • Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive Review (https://doi.org/10.3390/en18061454)
4. The paper’s originality could be articulated more clearly. The authors mention that prior research focused on households, but it would help to emphasise how this study fills that gap and what makes the approach unique compared with existing European public-attitude studies.
5. Sections 2.1 to 2.3 provide a very detailed literature background. While informative, parts of this discussion become repetitive, especially when discussing demographic factors and environmental attitudes. The authors should consider condensing some parts to improve readability and maintain focus on their core research questions.
6. The data collection is well described, but the paper would benefit from more justification for variable selection. Why were only five demographic factors (gender, age, education, income, residence) chosen?
7. The authors are encouraged to clearly explain how their findings can be applied by policymakers when designing renewable energy support schemes, how communication and awareness strategies can be tailored for different demographic groups, and what measures can be taken to improve public trust in energy policy and government-led renewable initiatives. Strengthening this section would significantly increase the practical relevance and impact of the paper.
8. The English of the manuscript should be improved. Grammar is inconsistent, and there are too many general statements without sufficient evidence. Also, there are some instances of long sentences and repetition.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

TITLE: Accurate

 

INTRODUCTION: In my view the introduction is well motivated. However, there is some dubius speculation over the Poland. Why Poland? Why this study is necessary in such a developed country? What are energy problems? What is necessary to change in Poland? What policy level problem this study is addressing in Poland and how this could reflect to west and east European countries?

 

“This study brings a new perspective to the literature on the social dimension of energy transition”, please explain a bit more. Need support in line with the prior studies.

 

“At the empirical level, the article presents representative data for Poland”. Usually, contribution is not methodological but theoretical and/or empirical to advance the current problem. Please, explain.

 

LITERATURE REVIEW.

In my view is a bit descriptive and a bit long. Author should explore figures and other elements to elucidate the policy development. Maybe a Table with the main institutional aspects of renewable energy, law and regulatory acts to show the advancement in Poland are welcome. A creative framework (figure) is invited for the authors with the main aspects of public expectations and Demographic factors. Try again to synthesize the text and provide more figure and tables with the main arguments as whole (demographic and socioeconomic differences as well).

 

METHOD

Detail the literature to support the data and overall methods. Please, cite studies support each generation and why. Please support each variable according with the literature and why (gender, education, residence, net income, RES home, RES plans).

 

RESULTS:

Overall, statistical results are well structured but “poor” discussed. More statistical validation (tests over the sample) is necessary to inform the sample is valid. For example, some variables need validation test (minimum o-value or other indicator for sample size validation).

Some generations are very similar (Figure 2: Boomers vs generation X and Y).

Concentration between Male and Female are very similar. Perhaps Male is more on the mean. How you explain this accordingly with other studies?

Figure 4. Need more explanation and discussion over the similarities and dissimilarities.

Figure 5. Income will always be one of the most dramatic RES variants. Please detail more according with other studies.

Figure 7. How this impact public policy on RES? The no is huge and it seen as an opportunity for the government.

 

CONCLUSION

Conclusion is a bit large. Please resume a bit with the main findings.

Explore the research limitations.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study explores public expectations regarding state involvement in promoting renewable energy sources (RES) among enterprises in Poland. Their findings are interesting. The article is adequately referenced. Its quality is good. So, minor revision is suggested.

Other comments:

1. Key data need be provided in “Abstract”. Important findings need be summarized with related data.

2. In Figure 1, the percent (%) need be provided, and the responses should be clearly displayed.

3. In "4. Results", it lacks the description about the data from Figures (Figure 2-Figure 8) and Tables (Table 3-Table 9) .

4. In "5. Discussion", it need to summarize the effects of gender, age, education, income, and place of residence by comparing these parameters in one schemes. 

5. For public attitudes, the negative and positive influences on the policy need be discussed clearly.

6. The limitation of data collection need be discussed. Limitations and future recommendations should be well summarized.

7. "6. Conclusions" need be shortened. The main analysis, result and conclusion are required to well organized.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have addressed my comments. The manuscript can be accepted in the present form.