Nuclear energy and recycling opportunities: the perceptions in Europe and in the United States

AREVA has carried out, in collaboration with TNS Sofres, the world leader in market research, a far-reaching survey in France, Europe and in the US on perceptions of spent nuclear fuel. This survey does not set out to explore thought mechanisms in depth, as a sociological survey would, but rather to draw up an inventory, to analyse the impact of spent nuclear fuel on the image of nuclear power, and reactions to existing solutions.

The collected data, presented at the Symposium by Brice Teinturier, Managing Director of TNS Sofres, allow a reflection on an issue that the general public overlooks, even though it worries them. The aim: to generate discussion.

The survey is unique as it allows comparative analysis of opinions in 7 countries with regard to spent nuclear fuel, based on perceptions among the informed general public. To better respond to the Symposium’s issues, a wide scale quantitative system has been set up.

• 7 countries have been selected, each with a different opinion and experience of nuclear power: France, England, Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium and the United States.
• Rather than questioning the ‘General Public’, who are often vague on the subject and in some countries are unfamiliar with it, we have targeted Opinion Leaders. Two targets have been selected:
  

  - The ‘informed members of the public’ target consisting of well off socioeconomic segments of the population, who read the business press: 300 interviews were carried out online in each country, with over 2,000 individuals surveyed.

  - And with a view to achieving more in depth analysis, the ‘expert members of the public’ target: 350 interviews were carried out by phone, 50 per country, among nationally and locally elected representatives as well as journalists specialised in matters of energy or the environment.

Their answers clarify some of the data collected from informed members of the public.

3 key lessons to be gained from this survey:

1. The future of spent nuclear fuel remains the weakest link in the development of nuclear power.
2. Two acknowledgments are called for when dealing with this issue: ignorance of existing solutions and limited trust in public authorities to develop them.
3. Recycling: a solution that provides significant reassurance and gives an opportunity to change the perception of nuclear power.