Engineering news
There has been a 74% decrease in public support for plans to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C, according to a new survey for New Nuclear Watch Europe.
The research, carried out by YouGov, found that the public is split on what the back up plan should be with 29% favouring new nuclear power stations, 28% favouring new renewable power stations, and 32% do not know what a back up plan should look like.
Worryingly for the future of Hinkley Point C, half of the British public questioned (50%) believe that French companies should not be allowed to build and operate a nuclear power station in the UK, and 67% are against a Chinese role in UK nuclear power stations.
The research found that British scepticism about foreign developers may hinder the search for alternatives to Hinkley Point C, despite the need for international finance and expertise.
It found that 46% of UK adults believe that foreign investment in the building of a nuclear power station in the UK is a negative thing, compared with just 12% thinking it positive.
Aside from France and China, 57% of respondents believe that Japanese companies, involved in two other key new nuclear build projects in the pipeline, Moorside in Cumbria and Wylfa in North Wales, should not be allowed to build and operate nuclear power plants in Britain.
Tim Yeo, chair New Nuclear Watch Europe chair, said: “There has been a worrying drop in support from the British public, which will compound the financial and technical challenges already faced by the Hinkley Point C project. NNWE is concerned that ongoing delays at Hinkley are damaging the wider development prospects for nuclear power in the UK. NNWE has been calling for some time for a rigorous analysis from DECC of our alternatives when it comes to new nuclear build.
“The reality of modern new nuclear projects is that international consortia are needed to bring together the right combination of technical expertise and financial backing. These polling numbers don’t look good for a government in search of a plan B. Ministers need to tackle public concerns about foreign investment in UK infrastructure head on or face a backlash against the next generation of nuclear power stations,” he added.