According to a survey conducted by the Estonian consulting company Kantar Emor in January 2022, 68% of respondents in Estonia support considering the use of a new-generation nuclear power plant to ensure electricity supply security in Estonia. This was reported on the website of the Estonian company Fermi Energia, which was established to promote nuclear energy development in Estonia through the implementation of small modular reactor (SMR) technology.
Fermi Energia noted that compared to a survey conducted in August 2021, the share of respondents who answered “somewhat yes” increased from 30% to 32%, and the share who answered “yes” rose from 27% to 36%. “There was also a significant increase in the proportion of women supporting nuclear energy—from 40% in August to 54% in January. Male support has remained significantly higher over the years, recently reaching 83%,” Fermi Energia clarified.
“The high gas and electricity prices this fall have made people seriously consider energy options and realize that good weather for renewable generation from solar and wind is not guaranteed in Nordic countries,” said Fermi Energia’s CEO Kalev Kallemets. “Estonia is mature enough to seriously consider replacing 20th-century shale energy with 21st-century nuclear energy within the next decade.”
The survey also asked respondents which type of power generation they support, given the reduction in electricity production from oil shale. The highest number of respondents favoured wind energy (57%), followed by new-generation nuclear power (52%) and solar energy (50%).
Respondents also highlighted the main advantages and disadvantages of building an SMR in Estonia. Key positive effects included reliable electricity supply in any weather and more affordable electricity prices, while issues surrounding nuclear waste storage and, to a lesser extent, the risk of accidents remained concerns.
Kantar Emor conducts the survey twice a year on behalf of Fermi Energia to measure the Estonian public’s attitude toward the possible deployment of a next-generation SMR in Estonia.
In January of this year, the United States and Estonia agreed to cooperate under the U.S. State Department’s “Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology” (FIRST) program.
FIRST is a capacity-building program designed to strengthen strategic ties, support energy innovation, and enhance technical cooperation with partner countries regarding safe and secure nuclear infrastructure.
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Tallinn Brian Roraff praised Estonia’s “ambitious efforts to move away from carbon-based power generation and ensure the country’s energy independence.” “The FIRST program provides Estonian officials with extensive experience from the U.S. government, academia, national laboratories, and industry as they explore the feasibility of nuclear technology in accordance with the highest international nuclear safety standards. This is an important decision, and we support Estonia’s careful consideration of all viable energy alternatives,” Roraff emphasised.
Estonia’s Minister of the Environment, Erki Savisaar, said that cooperation with the United States through the FIRST training program will expand the knowledge of Estonian specialists regarding SMR deployment and help Estonia make an informed decision on the feasibility of including nuclear energy in the country’s energy mix.
The initial training will take place online from February to September 2022, focusing on nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation. Future capacity-building efforts may cover topics such as establishing national nuclear safety regulations, stakeholder engagement, and site assessment for nuclear power plants.
The U.S. State Department launched the FIRST program in April 2021 during the Climate Leaders Summit hosted by the Biden-Harris administration. As an initial investment, the department allocated $5.3 million to support FIRST projects.
In November 2021, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins announced a commitment of $25 million to expand access to clean nuclear energy. As part of this “nuclear future” package, the U.S. pledged to work with Poland, Kenya, Ukraine, Brazil, Romania, Indonesia, and others to support their progress toward nuclear energy goals. FIRST was included in this package.
In April 2021, the Estonian government officially approved the creation of a working group to explore the feasibility of nuclear energy in Estonia (NEPIO), based on the study of advanced technologies and projects in this field. NEPIO will present its findings and recommendations to the government no later than September 2022.
