According to a Kantar Emor survey conducted in October, there are more people in favour of building a small modular reactor in Estonia than against, with support for building a nuclear power plant rising from 51.2% in April to 55% in October.
The construction of a new generation of small nuclear power plants to ensure Estonia's security of supply is supported by 55 percent of respondents, opposed by 31 percent and abstained by 14 percent, according to the survey commissioned by Fermi Energia.
"In Estonia, the knowledge and debate about the possibility of modern nuclear energy is still in its infancy, but it is encouraging that there is clearly more support than opposition on such a complex issue. I hope that this will give politicians some reassurance that, like Finland and Sweden, considering the introduction of nuclear power in Estonia is not a political suicide mission, but, together with other issues arising from the goal of climate neutrality, an important issue that needs systematic knowledge development and cooperation with specialists," said Kalev Kallemets, Chairman of the Board of Fermi Energia.
The advantages most cited by people for building a small modular reactor are security of supply in all weather conditions, cheaper electricity prices and reduced carbon emissions. Storage of nuclear waste and the risk of accidents were the main problems identified.
The data showed that men are significantly more in favour of nuclear power than women. The highest number of non-supporters is found in Ida-Viru County, while the highest number of supporters is found in the counties of South Estonia.
When people were asked which forms of electricity generation they would favour developing if shale oil production declined in the future, solar and wind were the most favoured, followed by a new generation of nuclear power. There is already significantly less support for natural gas and woodchip electricity generation and for shale electricity generation alongside oil production.
In October, Kantar Emor surveyed 1,324 people aged 15-84 in Estonia via online interviews. The survey was commissioned by Fermi Energia.
Fermi Energia was founded by Estonian nuclear energy and physics PhDs Mati Jeltsov, Kaspar Kööp, Henri Ormus and Mait Müntel and energy economics PhDs Sandor Liive and Kalev Kallemets. To date, €280 000 has been committed to the company for a feasibility study to be published in January 2020.