Two out of three Finns view nuclear power positively

Energiateollisuus ry has been monitoring Finnish attitudes toward nuclear power for decades. The survey was first conducted in 1983, when there were only two nuclear reactors in Olkiluoto—and even those were still relatively new. The latest study was carried out in April and received responses from more than 1,000 Finns.

Nuclear power enjoys strong support among Finns. A total of 31% of respondents view it very positively, while 35% are generally positive. In other words, two out of three respondents give nuclear power a clear thumbs up.

Only a small minority expressed negative views. Just 2% of respondents are strongly opposed, and 6% are generally negative toward nuclear power.

Proven in practice

The latest results come as no surprise to Johanna Aho, Head of Communications at Teollisuuden Voima. She notes that positive attitudes toward nuclear power have steadily increased at a time when energy issues have been widely discussed.

- Support rose above 60% as we entered the 2020s. This is partly due to the commissioning of OL3, but also because the benefits of nuclear power as a large-scale, stable, and weather-independent form of production are now better understood, Aho explains.

At Olkiluoto, three plant units produced 27.5% of all electricity consumed in Finland last year. According to Aho, the popularity of nuclear power is also explained by its importance for security of supply, as well as its role in supporting the clean energy transition.

- Electricity production in Finland is already nearly fossil-free. Last year, the figure reached 96%, thanks not only to renewable energy sources but also to nuclear power.

A long way from the starting point

Support for nuclear power is highest among those aged over 60, although differences between age groups are relatively small. The strongest growth in support has been seen among younger people: 59% of respondents under the age of 25 view nuclear power positively, and none in this age group reported a negative attitude.

The results also show that nuclear power is viewed more positively than negatively regardless of political affiliation.

Support for nuclear power has remained strong in Finland for several years. Over the longer term, however, the shift has been significant. When the survey was first conducted in 1983, nearly 40% of Finns viewed nuclear power negatively, while only one in four had a positive opinion.

Text: Ville Kulmala
Photos: Tapani Karjanlahti

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