Across the UK, from the industrial centers of Manchester to the coastal towns of Cornwall, nuclear energy appears to be the energy source people trust most. According to a survey by YouGov, commissioned by the Nuclear Industry Association, 43% of the public see nuclear as the most dependable way to ensure continuous electricity supply. This far outpaces solar at 14% and gas at 12%. This suggests a strong shift in perception. Nuclear is now seen as a key solution for long-term power needs.
Jobs and growth top the list
The poll shows that nuclear energy is viewed as the leading force for job creation and economic investment. A third of those surveyed—36%—believe nuclear will deliver the most employment opportunities. They also think it will attract significant capital. This surpasses solar and offshore wind. Each received only 14% of the votes. This data underscores how nuclear is now perceived. It is not just a source of energy. It is also seen as a crucial engine for national economic progress.
The results point to an evolving public awareness of nuclear’s contributions. As power stations retire, the need for new nuclear plants is increasingly seen as necessary. This is to sustain high-quality, skilled jobs. It is also to provide investment benefits. These benefits ripple through communities nationwide.
Majority supports new nuclear stations
With the majority of UK nuclear power plants due to shut down by 2030, the survey highlights significant public support for building new facilities to replace them. A clear 53% of respondents favor constructing new nuclear stations, compared to just 22% who are against. This demonstrates that, despite concerns, the public broadly supports expanding nuclear energy infrastructure.
Tom Greatrex, the head of the Nuclear Industry Association, highlighted the importance of public backing. He said it is key to driving the energy transition. He emphasized that building new nuclear power stations is critical. This is to maintain the UK’s energy security. It also shields households from unpredictable gas costs. It ensures clean, dependable electricity. This supports ongoing economic development.
Greatrex also stressed the need to move forward with the Nuclear Regulatory Review. He argued that successful implementation is essential to accelerate the deployment of new nuclear generators, enabling the UK to meet its future energy demands in a sustainable and timely manner.
In Scotland, nuclear is ranked as the most important energy source for keeping the lights on by 32% of people, surpassing offshore wind (17%) and solar (15%). The survey also found robust support for building new nuclear to replace retiring power stations, with 45% of Scots in support, 30% in opposition, and 25% neither in support nor opposition. This comes as 40% of people in Scotland support the use of nuclear power overall.
With Torness nuclear power station set to close in 2030, there is an urgent need to overturn the SNP’s ban on new nuclear in Scotland to allow the country to replace its most productive low-carbon asset.
Since it began generation, Torness has prevented more than 146 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and contributed £16 billion of economic value to Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “These results show that people in Scotland understand the vital role nuclear plays in keeping the lights on and disagree with the SNP Government ban on new nuclear. With 2030 quickly approaching, it is now absolutely critical that the Scottish Government listens to people in Scotland and allows new nuclear development, with the thousands of highly-skilled jobs and the multi-million pounds of investment it brings, whilst ensuring Scotland’s energy security. “Without new nuclear, Scotland will lose its only source of firm, clean power and become increasingly reliant on imported electricity and the impact of volatile international gas markets on the price of power.”