Survey: More than 70% of people in Czechia support nuclear and renewable energy development

Support for nuclear power and renewables in Czechia remains high. According to a survey conducted this May, 70 percent of Czechs favor the development of nuclear power, while support for renewable energy development is slightly higher, at 76 percent. This is according to a survey by the IBRS agency. The agency says public support for developing nuclear power and renewables began to rise significantly in autumn 2022 as a result of the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine.

“Just as in previous years, the main reason for supporting the development of nuclear power and renewables is concern about losing energy self-sufficiency. The public sees these two energy sources as complementary and is increasingly expressing support for both,” said Miloš Rybáček, managing director of the IBRS agency.

Concerns about losing energy self-sufficiency have eased slightly in recent times, according to the survey, which involved more than 500 respondents, but are still being fueled by the war in Ukraine. More than 65 percent of those surveyed cited it as the main cause for concern. If self-sufficiency were lost, most people, around 59 percent, would worry about a sharp rise in prices. Despite these concerns, support for coal-based energy sources, which still make up a significant part of the domestic energy mix, stands at three percent, according to the agency.

Support for nuclear power is rising across Europe. According to IBRS, surveys conducted by foreign institutions in recent weeks show this in countries such as Sweden, Belgium and Estonia, where a majority of those surveyed support building new capacity or extending the operating life of existing nuclear units. The reasons are the same as in Czechia: above all, efforts to strengthen energy security and ensure cheaper energy.