Twin conjoint experiment reveals public preferences for fusion and fission technologies in Europe, suggesting complex influences on support.
The transition to sustainable energy systems is a critical priority for Europeancountries. Among the most debated solutions are nuclear technologies, includinginnovative fusion and next-generation fission power plants. However, public support forthese technologies is complex and influenced by a range of factors, includingeconomic considerations, environmental concerns, and perceived social impacts; yetthe majority of the studies conducted on these technologies are observational andmono-dimensional. To address this gap, we conduct the first-ever twin conjointexperiment designed to assess public support for both fission and fusion nuclearenergy development plans. The conjoint fielded among a highly representative sampleof the French, German, Italian, British, Spanish and Polish populations in May 2025.Our results reveal that public preferences for nuclear energy development plans,whether for innovative fusion or next-generation fission technologies, are shaped bytopos (place), nomos (governance) and logos (effectiveness) oriented considerations.Respondents slightly favored fusion rather than fission development plans.
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Butorac et al. (2025) studied this question.
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