Nuclear energy is a unique form of energy in many different respects. One way in which nuclear stands apart is that, unlike any other energy source, it operates under a kind of social contract with the broader public. No matter where a nuclear plant is situated, it tends to maintain regular contact with local officials and nearby residents to ensure ongoing acceptance and comfort with the operations of the plant. In fact, many NPPs are known to have local stakeholder meetings, and some even have standing advisory committees made up of local officials and citizens. This kind of regular interaction with host communities and efforts to gain buy-in from the public and local officials is a hallmark of nuclear power and something that no other energy industry seems to follow as far as we are aware.
Since nuclear power and radiation in general are often misunderstood or not fully trusted by the public, the need for regular public engagement is essential to maintain the social contract that our industry depends upon. Over the years, the public’s comfort with nuclear power has ebbed and flowed, and, of course, some of the major reactor incidents – Three Mile Island, Chornobyl, and Fukushima – have harmed nuclear’s image in the eyes of many. Nevertheless, nuclear power has persevered, and its position today is much stronger and more resilient than perhaps at any point in history, and the latest public opinion polling data proves this point very well.
UxC has reviewed 15 different public opinion polls conducted over the last year in 11 separate countries, ranging from big nuclear power users, like the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, to smaller or potential newcomers, like Australia, Estonia, and Poland. In all these polls, support for nuclear power outweighed negative opinions. In some of these, the pro-nuclear opinions topped 70%. This included a poll in Japan showing 70% of the public want to see reactors restarted, and another in Poland that showed 90% of the public supporting the construction of nuclear power plants. In Belgium, a survey found a 70% support level for extending reactor lifetimes, and the same sentiment for continued long-term operation of existing NPPs in South Korea received a whopping 82% backing.
Another excellent review of global public opinion on nuclear power comes from the Public Attitudes toward Clean Energy (PACE) index produced by Radian Energy Group. The latest PACE update in 2023 showed results for opinions on nuclear from 20 different countries. As seen in the graphic on page 2, the global average reflected 46% in support of nuclear compared to 28% opposed. However, some countries, like China, Russia, UAE, and India, reflected significantly higher margins of support. The same PACE study also showed that among these 20 countries, 25% of the respondents think their country should focus on nuclear power, compared with 33% for large-scale solar, 16% for onshore wind, 10% for natural gas/CCS, and 7% for biomass.
Average citizens in so many countries are warming to nuclear power due in part to improving views about the reliability, cleanliness, and economics of this energy source. Another key factor appears also to be an increased understanding of the reality about what it will take to reduce carbon emissions while also maintaining economic growth and reliable supplies of electricity. Nevertheless, there are still challenges to winning over many in the public, including significant concerns over consistent safe operations of reactors along with effective management of radioactive waste.
Ultimately, nuclear power’s future will be dictated by many different factors, but the critical importance of maintaining and expanding public support cannot be emphasized enough. Luckily, there is now good evidence that the public continues to view nuclear power in a positive light, and this improving track record is clearly something that the industry can build upon as it seeks to expand. As nuclear power increases its foothold across the globe, everyone involved in the nuclear market should remember that its success will also depend heavily on continued acceptance from the general public.
This article was originally published in the November 25, 2024 issue of the Ux Weekly.
Jonathan Hinze is President of UxC, LLC. He has been at UxC since 2006, during which time he has helped to expand the company’s products and consulting work in numerous ways. Mr. Hinze has nearly two decades of direct experience in the nuclear industry, and therefore has an extensive wealth of knowledge on the nuclear fuel cycle and reactor markets. One of his main areas of focus over the years has been nuclear reactor developments and global nuclear power forecasting as well as analyzing the future of the nuclear fuel markets and the reactor supply chain. His areas of expertise include an in-depth knowledge of the international nuclear marketplace, nuclear technologies, government policies, nonproliferation, and the strong interplay between all these forces on a domestic and international level. Mr. Hinze received a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies from Haverford College and a Master of Arts in International Trade and Investment Policy from the George Washington University.