Against an international backdrop marked by the energy crisis triggered by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Ifop for Hellio questioned a sample of 2,004 French people about their views on major energy choices. With one year to go before the 2027 presidential election, the survey highlights a major shift in opinion: nuclear power is back at the center, driven by a demand for independence and energy security, while renewable energies are marking time, not so much because of a rejection of the transition as because of growing questions about their costs, efficiency and suitability for local conditions. The message that emerges is clear: the French are not turning their backs on ecology, but they are evaluating it more in terms of purchasing power, sovereignty and social justice. In a presidential campaign that promises to be dominated by the issue of spending constraints, the energy transition will have to move beyond the purely environmental register to become a credible project for protecting living standards, energy independence and social cohesion.
TO READ THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
THE ENERGY CRISIS IS RESHAPING FRENCH ENERGY PRIORITIES AND PUTTING NUCLEAR POWER BACK AT THE HEART OF THE SOVEREIGNTY DEBATE
1 – Nuclear power is now seen as the energy of most interest for France’s future: 42% of French people cite it, compared with 32% in January 2025, an increase of 10 points in just over a year.
2 – This revival of nuclear power is also reflected in the electorate: 55% of voters saytheywould not vote for a presidential candidate who advocated abandoning nuclear power in favor of developing renewable energies, compared with 42% in January 2022, on the eve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
3 – This shift takes place against a backdrop of almost unanimous concern about energy issues: 89% of French people believe that current international conflicts have heightened their concerns about energy.
4 – In this context, the energy transition is no longer reduced to its environmental dimension: 36% of French people see it first and foremost as an issue of sovereignty and energy independence, just as many as those who associate it first and foremost with environmental protection.
THE DECLINE IN RENEWABLES REVEALS A DEMAND FOR A MORE PRAGMATIC, CLEARER AND MORE BUDGET-COMPATIBLE TRANSITION
5 – Mirroring the rise of nuclear power, the development of renewable energies is slipping down the order of priorities : 51% of French people consider it a “top priority”, compared to 61% in 2022, a drop of 10 points in four years.
6 – This decline is also reflected in the hierarchy of future energies: solar power is now cited by only 20% of French people, compared to 29% in January 2025, at the same time as nuclear power has gained 10 points.
7 – This setback comes at a time when the transition is increasingly measured against the yardstick of purchasing power: 48% of French people believe that ecological transition and improved purchasing power are incompatible, with 35% believing that purchasing power should take precedence.
FACED WITH RISING ENERGY BILLS, THE FRENCH EXPECT ENERGY CHOICES TO PROTECT THEIR BUDGET AND STANDARD OF LIVING
8 – The return of nuclear power and the decline in renewable energies are part of a very budgetary interpretation of energy choices: the fight against risingenergybills is now the top priority for the French, with 79% considering it a“top priority”, 13 points more than in 2022.
9 – This pressure is also reflected in monthly budgets: 45% of French people feel that their energy expenses weigh heavily on their budget, a proportion that rises to 59% among the working classes, versus 29% among the more affluent.
10 – For some households, energy bills are a very real trade-off: 27% of French people often give up vacations, 8% medical treatment and 7% say they often skip a meal because of energy costs.
WHILE ENERGY RENOVATION IS BECOMING A MUCH-AWAITED RESPONSE TO HIGH ENERGY BILLS, THE COST AND LACK OF SUPPORT ARE STILL HOLDING PEOPLE BACK
11 – Home energy renovation is the transition measure most directly linked to purchasing power concerns: 83% of French people consider it a priority for reducing energy consumption.
12 – But this support is not enough to overcome material obstacles: over the past five years, only 31% of French people have carried out insulation work, 28% have installed a heating control system and 24% have installed efficient heating equipment.
13 – This discrepancy is confirmed by intentions to renovate: only 37% of French people plan to carry out an energy-efficiency renovation, compared with 43% in 2022. The gap between incomes remains marked: 41% of people earning €4,000 or more say they intend to do so, compared with 28% of those earning less than €1,000.
14 – Lack of support is also a major obstacle: only 45% of French people feel sufficiently informed and supported to undertake energy-efficiency renovation work, which underlines the fact that the decision depends not only on cost, but also on the clarity of support schemes and confidence in the work process.
THE VIEWPOINT OF IFOP’S FRANÇOIS KRAUS
” Against the backdrop of the energy crisis, this study highlights the rehabilitation of nuclear power as a response to dual geopolitical and economic anxiety, and the decline of renewable energies, perceived as too costly and/or unsuitable for local areas. In a presidential campaign where the issue of constrained spending will weigh heavily, the energy transition should therefore move beyond the purely environmental register to become a response to the country’s economic and social vulnerabilities. “
