Brits favour nuclear power over solar and wind energy, poll suggests
The poll found that Brits widely support renewable energy but have reservations about its affordability.
New YouGov research commissioned by Eland Cables suggests Brits widely support renewable energy but remain unconvinced it can deliver affordable, reliable power on its own.
The research found that almost two-thirds of Brits (64%) feel positive about renewable energy, while only 12% feel negative. Meanwhile, 44% believe the UK's transition towards renewable energy is happening too slowly, compared with just 18% who think it is moving too quickly.
However, despite strong support for renewables in principle, many respondents expressed concerns about whether the technology can meet the country's long-term energy needs. Half of respondents (51%) do not believe renewables will provide affordable energy costs over the next decade, while the same proportion doubt renewables will generate enough electricity to meet future UK demand.
The research also found significant support for nuclear power as part of the UK's future energy mix. When asked which electricity source the UK should prioritise, nuclear ranked first at 21%. National support for nuclear power stations stood at 47%, although support fell to 38% when developments were proposed locally.
The findings suggest that while renewable energy has secured broad public backing, attention is increasingly turning to reliability, affordability and energy security.
Jean-Sébastien Pelland, executive director at Eland Cables, said: "The public is no longer asking whether renewable energy should be deployed. The bigger question is whether the benefits are being felt yet. While support is high, there is still uncertainty around issues such as energy costs, security of supply and future demand.
“As renewables become a larger part of our energy system, the focus naturally moves beyond generation alone to the wider infrastructure required to deliver the reliability and resilience people expect."