Sweden Advances Nuclear Power Expansion with Modular Reactors
Sweden announced on Thursday the selection of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) for its first nuclear power expansion in 50 years. The government plans to construct three to five next-generation reactors at the Ringhals plant in southwestern Sweden, generating approximately 1,500 megawatts—equivalent to the output of two traditional reactors, reports 24brussels.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson declared, “For the first time in 50 years, new nuclear power will be built in Sweden,” during a press conference. The decision marks a significant shift in policy, as Sweden had voted in a non-binding referendum in 1980 to phase out nuclear energy, subsequently decommissioning six of its twelve aging reactors.
Currently, a political majority supports the extension of nuclear power alongside renewable energy to curb reliance on fossil fuels. Sweden’s state energy utility, Vattenfall, is evaluating suppliers, with British group Rolls-Royce and American company GE Vernova as primary contenders.
Vattenfall’s CEO, Anna Borg, indicated that project costs “were still a matter of negotiation,” aiming for the reactors to be operational by around 2035. She also noted that the company is exploring opportunities for additional reactors in the locations of Ringhals 1 and 2.
At present, Sweden’s six active reactors fulfill roughly 30 percent of the country’s electricity demand. SMRs are seen as potentially simpler and more cost-effective to build than larger reactors; however, they remain largely experimental, with only a limited number of units constructed worldwide.
Environmental organization Greenpeace has criticized the government’s plans as ambiguous, pointing to the absence of a definitive budget, timeline, and necessary construction permits. The group asserted that the government is misleading the public by suggesting that new nuclear power would provide cheap and sustainable energy.
According to Greenpeace, “New nuclear power will require some of the biggest state subsidies in Sweden’s history, will increase emissions, and delay the electrification of the industry.” The organization argues that investing in renewable energy would be more cost-effective, faster, and beneficial for the climate than pursuing nuclear options.
