Sweden to Build Smaller Nuclear Reactors with US or British Technology

Strategic Insights -

Sweden is reversing its 40-year-old decision to abandon nuclear power and is planning to build several smaller reactors with either American or British technology. Vattenfall, the Swedish state-owned utility, has announced that it will choose between small modular reactors (SMRs) from GE Vernova of the US and Rolls-Royce of the UK to be placed at its existing Ringhals nuclear plant in the south of the country. The new reactors will have a total output of 1,500 megawatts, three times the size of Sweden's first nuclear plant at Oskarshamn, and are expected to be operational by the middle of the next decade.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sweden is planning to build smaller nuclear reactors with either American or British technology, reversing its 40-year-old decision to abandon nuclear power.
  • Vattenfall, the Swedish state-owned utility, will choose between SMRs from GE Vernova of the US and Rolls-Royce of the UK for the new reactors.
  • The new reactors will be placed at the existing Ringhals nuclear plant in the south of Sweden and will have a total output of 1,500 megawatts.
  • The reactors are expected to be operational by the middle of the next decade and will provide more stable, competitive, and climate-friendly energy generation.
  • Sweden has been vocal about the need for nuclear power to balance its unbalanced power system, which is dominated by hydroelectric power in the north and rising prices in the south.
  • The European Union has pledged to buy more American energy technology, including nuclear, as part of a trade deal with the Trump administration.

Statistics:

  • Sweden built 12 nuclear reactors in the 1970s and 1980s, but abandoned the technology after the Three Mile Island accident in the US.
  • 40 years have passed since the last nuclear power construction in Sweden.
  • The EU has pledged to invest in American energy technology, including nuclear, as part of a trade deal.
  • The new reactors will have a total output of 1,500 megawatts, three times the size of Sweden's first nuclear plant at Oskarshamn.
  • Vattenfall is already eyeing a further 1,000MW for the Ringhals plant.

Sources:

  • Richard Milne, "Nordic and Baltic correspondent": "Sweden is planning to build smaller nuclear reactors with either American or British technology..."
  • Vattenfall: "Vattenfall to choose between US and British technology for new nuclear reactors"
  • European Union: "European Union to invest in American energy technology, including nuclear..."