Undergraduate students’ knowledge, utilization, perception and willingness to adopt renewable energy: A case study from Karnataka, India.

The transition to renewable energies has been both a part of global discussions and its implementations. Among the complex factors driving the transition, public opinion is one such factor that needs to be considered. The article through its study is first of its kind to collect and study the responses and opinions of a particular section of society, the undergraduate (UG) students, from the state of Karnataka, India. Total of 37 questions were used to assess four core aspects of knowledge, utilization, perception and willingness to adopt and a total of 230 responses were received. The results show that the overall opinion among UG students regarding renewable energy is positive despite the perceptions that current utilization and policy awareness is low. Most participants are of opinion that transitions to renewables is a costly affair and take time to implement. The results of this paper will help various stakeholders in particular the teachers and educationists to narrow down and address the finer aspects of undergraduate student opinions in framing the subjects and courses for on renewable energy to ease its transition in near future.