Official Statistics

DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker: Energy infrastructure and energy security, Spring 2025, UK

Published 3 July 2025

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The DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker is a nationally representative annual survey of adults (aged 16+) in the UK that tracks public awareness, attitudes and behaviours relating to the policies of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), such as energy and climate change.

This report provides a summary of the headline findings relating to energy infrastructure and energy security from the Spring 2025 wave of the Tracker, which ran from 17 March and 22 April 2025.

Notes for interpretation of findings

Differences between groups are only reported where they are statistically significant at the 95% confidence interval level.

The annual personal income referred to in the report is a self-reported measure.

The age-related findings are reported using six age groups (16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 and over). In some cases, findings across age groups have been combined to describe a general trend, for example, ‘between 78% and 88% of people aged 45 and above’ refers to the range of percentages for the three age groups 45-54, 55-64 and 65+.

Two summary self-reported measures are used in this report:

  • ‘Awareness’ encompasses all respondents who said they had heard of a particular concept or technology, including those who said ‘hardly anything but I’ve heard of this’, ‘a little’, ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a lot’.
  • ‘Knowledge’ encompasses those who said that they know ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a lot’ about a topic.

Awareness and support for fusion energy

Respondents were provided with the following explanation before being presented with some questions on this topic ‘Fusion energy is an experimental technology that works by fusing together atoms in order to release energy. The UK is exploring whether this technology could be used to generate zero carbon electricity’.

Figure 3.1 displays both the longer-term trends in overall awareness and knowledge (A lot/fair amount) of fusion energy (line chart) and the detailed awareness and knowledge data for the most recent two waves alongside the baseline (bar chart).

Over the longer-term, awareness of fusion energy has increased from 62% in Autumn 2021 to 66% in Spring 2025, while knowledge has increased over the same period from 15% to 19%. Awareness has, however, levelled out since Spring 2023.

Between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025, levels of awareness and knowledge both remained stable. Just 6% said they knew a lot about fusion energy with 46% saying they knew a little (25%) or hardly anything (21%).

Figure 3.1: Awareness of fusion energy (% based on all people), Autumn 2021, Spring and Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025

FUSIONKNOW. Fusion energy is an experimental technology that works by fusing together atoms in order to release energy. The UK is exploring whether this technology could be used to generate zero carbon electricity. Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about fusion energy?

Base: All wave respondents – Autumn 2021 (5,558), Spring 2022 (4,378), Autumn 2022 (4,158), Spring 2023 (4,406), Spring 2024 (4,082), Spring 2025 (3,411)

Note: On the line chart, arrows denote a significant difference between one wave and the next. For the bar chart, significant differences are noted between Autumn 2021 and Spring 2024, and between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025.

Analysis by subgroups

Overall awareness of fusion energy was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 76% compared with 52% of those with no qualifications.
  • People reporting that they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero: 82% compared with 52% of those who know a little or hardly anything and 34% of those unaware of Net Zero.
  • People living in London (75%) and the South West (73%); in contrast the lowest levels of awareness were reported in the North East (55%) and the North West and the West Midlands (both 58%).

Self-reported knowledge (knowing a lot or a fair amount) about fusion energy was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 27% compared with 16% of those with another kind of qualification and 9% of those with no qualifications.
  • People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero: 32% compared with 6% of those who know a little or hardly anything and 4% of those unaware of Net Zero.
  • People living in London (29%), the North East (20%) and the East Midlands and Scotland (both 22%) compared with all regions (between 15% and 19%).

Over the longer-term, following an increase at the start of the tracking series between Autumn 2021 and Spring 2022, levels of support for fusion energy have remained broadly stable (Figure 3.2).

Between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025 overall support remained stable at 48% with strong support at 18%. Levels of opposition remained low at 4% in Spring 2025.

Figure 3.2: Whether support fusion energy (% based on all people), Autumn 2021, Spring and Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025

FUSIONSUPPORT. From what you know, or have heard about fusion energy, do you support or oppose the UK developing this technology?

Base: All wave respondents – Autumn 2021 (5,555), Spring 2022 (4,368), Autumn 2022 (4,157), Spring 2023 (4,408), Spring 2024 (4,072), Spring 2025 (3,403) 

Note: On the line chart, arrows denote a significant difference between one wave and the next. For the bar chart, significant differences are noted between Autumn 2021 and Spring 2024, and between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025.

Analysis by subgroups

The proportion reporting that they supported fusion energy was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 56% compared with 37% of those with no qualifications.
  • People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about Net Zero: 61% compared with those who know a little or hardly anything and those unaware of Net Zero (both 35%).
  • People living in London (58%), the South West (54%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (53%); in contrast the lowest levels were reported in the North East (39%) and in the North West, Scotland and Wales (all 41%).

People were most likely to say they opposed fusion energy in the North West (8%); in contrast they were least likely to show opposition in the North East and South West (both 2%).

The total base size for respondents who reported that they opposed or strongly opposed fusion energy was very small (n=150). Thus, the reasons provided for opposing fusion energy are not included in this report.

Awareness of hydrogen

Respondents were introduced to the concept of hydrogen as a fuel by being provided with the following definition: ‘And now a question about hydrogen, which is used as a fuel in some industrial processes. Hydrogen is not naturally available. This means it needs to be produced from other sources to be used as a fuel. When produced in an environmentally friendly way, hydrogen can help reduce the carbon emissions in industries, power generation, lorries and shipping.’

Survey respondents were then asked about how much they knew about hydrogen already being used as a fuel in some industrial processes in the UK (Figure 3.3), and how much they knew about the potential future uses of hydrogen to reduce emissions in some industries (Figure 3.4).

After an increase in awareness of and knowledge (knowing a lot or a fair amount) about hydrogen as a fuel at the start of the tracking series between Spring 2022 and Spring 2023, levels have since remained broadly stable (Figure 3.3). 

In Spring 2025, 80% of people said they were aware of hydrogen as a fuel, with self-reported knowledge at 20%. Just 5% said they knew a lot with 61% saying they knew a little (35%) or hardly anything (25%).

Figure 3.3: Awareness of hydrogen already used as fuel (% based on all people), Spring 2022, Spring 2023 Spring 2024, Spring 2025

HYDKNOW. Before today, how much would you say you knew about hydrogen already being used as a fuel in some industrial processes in the UK?

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2022 (4,372), Spring 2023 (4,400), Spring 2024 (4,079), Spring 2025 (3,406)

Analysis by subgroups

Overall awareness of hydrogen already being used as a fuel was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 86% compared with 71% of those with no qualifications.
  • People living in London (84%); in contrast the lowest levels of awareness were reported in the North East (73%), Yorkshire and the Humber (75%) and the West Midlands (76%).

Self-reported knowledge (knowing a lot or a fair amount) about hydrogen already being used as a fuel was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 25% compared with 10% of those with no qualifications.
  • People living in Scotland and Northern Ireland (both 26%), and London (25%); in contrast the lowest levels of knowledge were reported in Wales (11%), the West Midlands (15%) and in the North East, North West and South East (all 16%).

Following an increase in awareness of and knowledge (knowing a lot of a fair amount) about potential future uses of hydrogen at the start of the tracking series between Spring 2022 and Spring 2023, levels have since remained stable (Figure 3.4).

In Spring 2025, 77% of people said they were aware of future uses of hydrogen, with overall knowledge at 17%. Just 4% said they knew a lot, with 60% saying they knew a little (33%) or hardly anything (26%).

Figure 3.4: Awareness of potential future uses of hydrogen (% based on all people), Spring 2022, Spring 2023 Spring 2024, Spring 2025

HYDREDKNOW. Before today, how much would you say you knew about the potential future uses of hydrogen to reduce emissions in some industries?

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2022 (4,372), Spring 2023 (4,402), Spring 2024 (4,084), Spring 2025 (3,413)

Analysis by subgroups

Overall awareness of potential future uses of hydrogen was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 83% compared with 75% of those with another kind of qualification and 69% of those with no qualifications.
  • People living in the East Midlands (82%), and in London, the South West and Scotland (all 81%); in contrast the lowest levels of awareness were reported in the North East (68%), Yorkshire and the Humber (70%) and the North West (72%).

Self-reported knowledge (knowing a lot or a fair amount) about potential future uses of hydrogen was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 22% compared with 16% of those with another kind of qualification and 9% of those with no qualifications.
  • People living in London (22%), Scotland and the East Midlands (both 21%) and Northern Ireland (20%); in contrast the lowest levels of knowledge were reported in the North East (9%).

Awareness of small modular reactors

Respondents were provided with the following explanation before being presented with some questions on this topic: ‘These are new types of nuclear reactors, similar to the ones in existing nuclear power stations, but on a smaller scale. They can be used for electricity generation, to provide industry with heat and power, or to provide energy to UK communities not connected to the national gas grid’.  

Following an increase in awareness of and knowledge (knowing a lot of a fair amount) about small modular reactors at the start of the tracking series between Spring 2022 and Spring 2023, awareness and knowledge levels have since dropped back. In the longer-term, awareness has fallen from 46% in Autumn 2021 to 38% in Spring 2025 (Figure 3.5)[footnote 1].

Between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025, overall awareness of small modular reactors fell from 43% to 38%, with knowledge (a fair amount or a lot) remaining low at 9%.

Figure 3.5: Awareness of small modular reactors (% based on all people), Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025

SMRKNOW. The next question is about Small Modular Reactors. These are new types of nuclear reactors, similar to existing nuclear power stations, but on a smaller scale. They can be used for electricity generation, to provide industry with heat and power, or to provide energy to UK communities not connected to the national gas grid. Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about Small Modular Reactors?

Base: All wave respondents – Autumn 2021 (5,548), Autumn 2022 (4,158), Spring 2024 (4,086), Spring 2025 (3,410)

Analysis by subgroups

Overall awareness of small modular reactors was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 44% compared with 31% of those with no qualifications.
  • People living in Northern Ireland (43%), and in London and the South West (both 42%); in contrast the lowest levels of awareness were reported in Yorkshire and the Humber (31%).

Self-reported knowledge (knowing a lot or a fair amount) about small modular reactors was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People in age groups 55 and over: between 10% and 11% compared with 5% of people in age groups 16 to 34.
  • People with a degree: 12% compared with 4% of those with no qualifications.
  • People living in London (13%); in contrast the lowest levels of knowledge were reported in Northern Ireland (4%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (5%).

Support for local nuclear power stations

In Spring 2025, 22% of people said they supported construction of a nuclear power station in their local area (unchanged from Spring 2024). Overall, 37% of people opposed local construction, down from 41% in Spring 2024 when this was first asked (Figure 3.6). Strong opposition fell from 24% to 21% over the same time period.

Figure 3.6: Support for construction of nuclear power station in local area (% based on all people), Spring 2024, Spring 2025

NUCLOCALSUPP. Now imagine that there are plans for a nuclear power station to be constructed in your local area. To what extent would you support or oppose this? If you already have this in your local area, answer on the basis of how you feel about this now.

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2024 (4,067), Spring 2025 (3,405)

Analysis by subgroups

  • People with a degree (23%) were more likely to support this compared to those with another kind of qualification (24%) and those with no qualifications (16%).
  • Opposition was also higher among people with a degree (40%) compared with 31% of those with no qualifications.
  • Support was highest in the East Midlands (30%); in contrast the lowest levels of support were reported in Northern Ireland (17%) and in the East of England and the South East (both 19%).

Respondents who said they supported the construction of a nuclear power station in their local area (22%) were prompted to choose their reasons for support from a list of possible reasons (Figure 3.7).

In Spring 2025 the main reasons for supporting construction remained in line with those given in Spring 2024. The most reported reason was to provide a sustainable source of power (74%), followed by creating jobs (59%), reducing dependence on foreign energy sources (57%) and reducing emissions (55%). Just under half of those who supported said this was because of potential benefits to the economy both nationally (49%) and locally (47%).

Figure 3.7: Reasons for supporting construction of nuclear power station in local area (% based on all who support it), Spring 2024, Spring 2025

NUCWHYSUPP. You said you would support the construction of a nuclear power station to be built in your local area. Why is this? Please select all that apply. 

Base: All wave respondents who support local construction – Spring 2024 (853), Spring 2025 (749)

Respondents who said they opposed the construction of a nuclear power station in their local area (37%) were prompted to choose their reason from a list of possible reasons (Figure 3.8)[footnote 2].

In Spring 2025 the most reported reasons for opposing construction were concerns about safety and security (74%, down from 80% in Spring 2024) and concerns about disposal of nuclear waste (69%, new response option so no time trend comparisons possible).

Other reasons given in Spring 2025 by this subgroup were broadly in line with those given in Spring 2024: concerns about the impact on local plant and animal life (61%), on house prices (34%) and on the view (34%).

Figure 3.8: Reasons for opposing construction of nuclear power station in local area (% based on all who oppose it), Spring 2024, Spring 2025

NUCWHYNO. You said you would be opposed the construction of a nuclear power station being built in your local area. Why is this? Please select all that apply. 

*’Concern about disposal’ code included in question list in 2025, but was coded from open text data collected in 2024

Base: All wave respondents who oppose local construction – Spring 2024 (1,697), Spring 2025 (1,306)

Awareness and support for carbon capture and storage

Respondents were provided with the following explanation before being presented with some questions on this topic: ‘Carbon capture and storage is a technology that stops greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere. It typically involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power stations or industrial facilities where emissions are high. The CO2 is then piped to offshore underground storage sites, where it can be safely and permanently stored.’.

Over the longer-term, awareness of carbon capture and storage has increased: from 62% in Spring 2022 to 68% in Spring 2025, with a corresponding increase in overall knowledge (a lot or a fair amount) from 15% to 20%. Since Spring 2023, both measures then levelled out (Figure 3.9).

Over the shorter-term, between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025, awareness and knowledge remained stable. In Spring 2025, just 5% said they knew a lot, with 48% saying they knew a little (27%) or hardly anything (21%).

Figure 3.9: Awareness of carbon capture and storage (% based on all people), Spring and Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024

CCSKNOW. Carbon capture and storage is a technology that stops greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere. It typically involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power stations or industrial facilities where emissions are high. The CO2 is then piped to offshore underground storage sites, where it can be safely and permanently stored. Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about carbon capture and storage?

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2022 (4,375), Autumn 2022 (4,155), Spring 2023 (4,406), Spring 2024 (4,082), Spring 2025 (3,410)     

Note: On the line chart, arrows denote a significant difference between one wave and the next. For the bar chart, significant differences are noted between Spring 2022 and Spring 2024, and between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025.

Analysis by subgroups

Overall awareness of carbon capture and storage was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People with a degree: 75% compared with 58% of those with no qualifications.
  • People living in the East Midlands, London and the South West (all 75%); in contrast the lowest levels were reported in the West Midlands (58%), the North East (61%) and Wales (62%).

Self-reported knowledge of carbon capture and storage (the percentage who said they knew a lot or a fair amount) followed a similar trend, and was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People aged 16 to 24 (28%) compared with between 16% and 19% of those in age groups 25 and over.
  • People with a degree: 28% compared with 9% of those with no qualifications.
  • People living in London (28%); in contrast, the lowest levels were reported in the North West and the West Midlands (both 15%), and in the North East, Wales and Northern Ireland (all 16%).

Over the longer-term, overall support for the use of carbon capture and storage to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has remained stable at 44% in Spring 2025 (Figure 3.10). Opposition, however, increased from 7% in Spring 2022 to 12% in Spring 2025 (slightly up from 10% in Spring 2024).

Between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025, the pattern of support for carbon capture and storage has remained consistent. In Spring 2025, 11% expressed strong support while a substantial minority were not able to give an opinion either way: 32% said they neither supported nor opposed this technology and 12% said they did not know.

Figure 3.10: Whether support or oppose carbon capture and storage (% based on all people), Spring and Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025

CCSUPPORT. From what you know, or have heard about it, do you support or oppose the use of carbon capture and storage to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2022 (4,366), Autumn 2022 (4,145), Spring 2023 (4,397), Spring 2024 (4,080), Spring 2025 (3,406)     

Note: On the line chart, vertical scale has been reduced to 0-80%, and arrows denote a significant difference between one wave and the next. For the bar, significant differences are noted between Spring 2022 and Spring 2024, and between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025.

Analysis by subgroups

Support for carbon capture and storage was higher among the following subgroups:

  • People aged 16 to 24 (51%) compared with those aged 65 and over (42%).
  • People who said they knew a lot or a fair amount about carbon capture and storage: 57% compared with 48% of those who know a little or hardly anything, and 30% of those not aware of it.

People with self-reported knowledge (a lot/fair amount) about carbon capture and storage  were more likely to both support (57%) and oppose it (24%) compared to those with no awareness (30% support and 8% oppose).

Reasons for supporting or opposing carbon capture and storage

As shown in Figure 3.10, in Spring 2025, 44% of people supported the use of carbon capture and storage, and 12% opposed it. Respondents were asked to select their reasons for support or opposition from lists of possible reasons.

In Spring 2025, the main reason for supporting carbon capture and storage was a perception that it would help combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions (84%, no change since Spring 2024). Other reasons included jobs creation (32%), benefit to the UK economy (32%), providing an opportunity for the UK to be a world leader in this (30%), and re-use of existing infrastructure (29%).

When asked about reasons for opposing carbon capture and storage, many of the reasons were selected more frequently in Spring 2025 compared with Spring 2024. The most reported reason in Spring 2025 was that this would not be a long-term solution (58%), followed by a preference for more natural strategies (50%), a perception that it would not tackle the causes of climate change or stop emissions (49%, up from 39% in Spring 2024), that it would be ineffective in reducing emissions (38%, up from 29%) and that it would be too expensive (32%, stable from Spring 2024 but an increase from 21% at the Spring 2022 baseline).

Other reasons for opposing included, it being too disruptive locally (21%, down from 33%) and  not knowing enough about the technology (10%, down from 16% in Spring 2024). Safety concerns had also declined in the longer-term from 41% at the Spring 2022 baseline to 31% in Spring 2025.

Trust in information about energy sources

Trust in various sources to provide accurate information about new and emerging energy sources such as fusion energy and hydrogen was first asked in Spring 2024.

In Spring 2025, the overall pattern of trust remained in line with Spring 2024, with scientists (83%) and TV/radio documentaries (70%) the most trusted in this context, followed by charities and TV news (both 62%), the UK government (54%, up from 47% in Spring 2024), and newspapers (38%). Only 18% trusted social media to provide accurate information on new energy sources, however this increased from 15% in Spring 2024.

Figure 3.11: Level of trust in each source to provide accurate information about new energy sources (% based on all people), Spring 2024, Spring 2025

NEWTECHTRUST. How much do you trust each of the following to provide accurate information about new and emerging energy sources such as fusion energy and hydrogen energy? *change to social media examples to include YouTube and to update ‘Twitter’ to ‘X (formerly Twitter)’.

Base: All wave respondents – Spring 2024 / Spring 2025: Scientists/scientific organisations (4,070/3,388), TV & radio documentaries (4,065/3,391), Charities, environmental or campaign groups (4,067/3,389), TV news (4,072/3,392), UK government (4,069/3,386), Newspapers (4,067/3,389), Social media (4,057/3,382)

Analysis by subgroups

The following groups were more or less likely to trust different sources to provide reliable information on new and emerging energy sources.

By age:

  • Older people were more likely to trust newspapers (45% of people aged 65 and over vs 34% to 37% of people in age groups 25 to 54) and TV news (65% to 68% of people in age groups 55 and over vs 59% to 62% of those in age groups under 55).
  • Conversely, older people aged 65 and over were less likely to trust scientists/scientific organisations (74% vs 82% to 88% of people in age groups 16 to 64) and charities (50% vs 63% to 67% in age groups 16 to 64).
  • Younger people aged 16 to 24 were more likely to trust social media compared to all other age groups (39% vs 8% to 20%), with a general pattern of trust decreasing with age.

By education:

  • People with a degree were more likely to trust all sources of information, with the exception of social media; for example, 68% of those with a degree said they trusted TV news vs 60% of those with other types of qualifications and 56% of people with no qualifications.
  • Conversely, trust in social media was greater for people with no qualifications (23%) and other types of qualifications (21%) compared with those with a degree (14%).

By geography:

  • People in London were more likely than average to say they trusted all sources of information. They were most likely to trust charities (72% vs 62% overall), the UK government (64% vs 54% overall) and newspapers (54% vs 38% overall).
  • Trust in TV news was higher than average (62%) in the South West (70%) and London (69%), with trust in TV/radio documentaries also higher than average (70%) in the same two areas (both 77%).
  • Trust in social media was higher than average (18%) in the Yorkshire and the Humber (28%) and London (23%).

Further findings on energy infrastructure and energy security

In previous waves, questions were included on other topics relating to energy infrastructure and energy security. The latest findings relating to these topics can be found as follows:

  1. These questions were asked prior to the Small Modular Reactor announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rolls-royce-smr-selected-to-build-small-modular-nuclear-reactors. ↩

  2. A new response option was added in Spring 2025 based on open text data collected in ‘Other reason’ for the question NUCWHYNO in Spring 2024 ‘I’m concerned about the disposal of radioactive nuclear waste’. ↩

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