One in Two Italians in Favour of Nuclear Energy, Poll Finds

Almost one Italian out of two is in favour of nuclear energy and its inclusion in the country’s future energy mix.

This is the result of a recent opinion poll, conducted by SWG and presented at the VI edition of the Intelligence Week conference “From training to industry, the restart of nuclear power in Italy”,

48% of respondents would support the construction of nuclear power plants in the country, while only 24% would oppose it.

More than 80% of respondents are aware of the growth in electricity demand and energy costs in the future and that it will be necessary to increase electricity production not only through renewables, so as to achieve the EU decarbonisation targets.

Furthermore, 79% of the sample welcomed the recent announcement of the creation of a joint venture made by Enel, Ansaldo Nucleare (ENS Corporate Member) and Leonardo, aiming at supporting the Italian nuclear industry and studying the feasibility of new nuclear projects in the country.

The positive trend in the public perception of nuclear energy in Italy is then continuing, but more information and dissemination are needed.

Indeed, misinformation or a lack of knowledge still influences perceptions about radwaste management or awareness about new technologies (SMRs, AMRs, MMRs).

ENS and Associazione Italiana Nucleare (AIN, ENS Member Society) President Stefano Monti commented:

Investing in communication, dissemination, involvement of citizens and communities is crucial. Italy has not commercially operated nuclear power plants for 35 years and we need infrastructures, a skilled workforce, a legislative framework and an independent authority in the sector. Making a decision is becoming more and more urgent, and in Italy as in Europe, it is time to move from declarations to facts […] There is a growing awareness that the equation of safety, prices and decarbonisation is not a simple equation, but we need to have more projects and start realising them.

The full survey is accessible here (in Italian)