Abstract :
[en] Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are increasingly advocated by their proponents as a cheap and reliable, low-carbon option for climate change mitigation (IAEA, 2024). Vendors advertise a paradigm shift in nuclear energy generation, claiming lower capital costs, enhanced safety, greater flexibility, and improved public acceptance. Although only a handful are operational, private and public interest is high, with over 90 projects at various development stages reported in 2024 (NEA, 2024). Despite growing interest in SMRs within the STS literature (e.g., Kari et al., 2023; Sovacool, 2019), few studies have examined local perceptions and expectations in areas that may potentially host these novel reactors in the future. The literature on siting controversies highlights how proposals for nuclear new build often generate public concerns and opposition from residents near new proposed sites, indicating that a strong not in my backyard (NIMBY) effect remains associated with nuclear-related projects (e.g., Di Nucci & Brunnengräber, 2017; Woo et al., 2017; Easterling & Kunreuther, 2013). Consequently, public authorities have typically resorted to concentrating new nuclear infrastructure within existing nuclear sites (e.g., Greenberg et al., 2017), hence suggesting that first SMRs will likely also be built in these locations. This study, conducted as part of a European project (ESFR-Simple), presents a comparative analysis of local perceptions of SMRs near two legacy nuclear sites that may potentially host these small reactors in the future: Marcoule (Gard region, France) and Sellafield (West Cumbria, UK). Empirically, the research relies on field observations, two focus groups, and 30 semi-structured interviews with local elected officials, environmental protection associations, concerned citizens, farmers, social workers, and local industry representatives near these sites. Theoretically, we build on extensive literature on nuclear communities (e.g., Vilhunen et al., 2022; Venables et al., 2012) and sociotechnical imaginaries (e.g., Jasanoff & Kim, 2009; Rudek; 2022; Smith & Tidwell, 2016) to highlight how industrial trajectories can shape local visions of desirable futures. Strikingly, initial findings suggest a strong local appetite for the siting of SMRs near both Marcoule and
Sellafield, with dissenting opinions being often marginalized, or even silenced, in these traditionally pro-nuclear contexts. Over the past decades, both Marcoule and Sellafield have gradually shifted towards decommissioning and dismantling as their primary activities. This shift, while vital to sustaining local economies, also brings a sense of finality, as dismantling efforts are locally interpreted as a sign that the site’s purpose is coming to an end. In this context, SMRs are often narrated as a strategic means to future proof ageing nuclear sites, maintaining their relevance while also sustaining local economies. Indeed, beyond immediate job creation, SMRs are also perceived as a catalyst for attracting industries seeking to decarbonize their manufacturing processes. This strongly resonates with a local attachment to past industrial heritage. For instance, in West Cumbria, once renowned for its steel industry, the idea of using SMRs to produce green steel, was depicted as an opportunity to restore a severed link with the area’s industrial past.
