Public Attitudes Towards Small Modular Reactors as an Emerging Field of Social Research

The development of small modular reactors (SMRs) offers an alternative to large traditional reactors (LTRs), and some countries in Europe are considering or planning to implement SMR construction projects. Compared to the vast literature on LTRs, little is known about the public's perceptions or views of SMRs or the willingness of local communities to potentially host an SMR facility. An international and multidisciplinary team of researchers addressed this topic in the context of current climate change and energy security challenges. In 2024, we conducted research in six European countries: Belgium, Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. Our approach combined quantitative methods, including representative public opinion surveys in the first three countries, with qualitative methods such as desk research, focus group discussions, expert interviews, and other techniques in all six countries. Our findings indicate that although media coverage of the expert debate surrounding SMRs has increased in the last two to three years, partly due to the nuclear revival following the energy crisis, the public remains largely unaware of the technology. There is a demand for more factual and accurate information. The potential benefits of SMRs are primarily seen by the public as contributing to long-term energy security, rather than as an immediate solution for the climate crisis. Additionally, many individuals struggle to recognize the advantages of SMRs, which are still considered an unproven technology, in comparison to the established high energy production capacity of LTRs. The oral presentation will outline our methodology and key research findings, inviting the audience to engage with the data collected and publications that report on our results.