Sweden has joined the rising record of nations discussing nuclear energy as a part of a technique to supply extra electrical energy whereas additionally decarbonizing energy technology. Lawmakers in June adopted new targets as a part of their vitality plans, fossil-free and renewable vitality to assist meet energy demand pegged at about 300 TWh by 2040. The nation additionally needs to succeed in net-zero carbon emissions from the ability sector by 2045.
The technique consists of constructing extra nuclear reactors—as many as 10 items have been mentioned—a departure from Sweden’s earlier stance, because the nation voted in 1980 to part out nuclear energy. Later authorities strikes enabled some reactors to proceed working, and a brand new authorities coalition has stated nuclear energy is important to satisfy decarbonization targets whereas additionally growing the electrical energy provide. Lawmakers, in an effort to spur improvement of recent tasks, have stated the federal government will assist finance new nuclear energy crops to help their building.
“Sweden and the remainder of Europe is not going to meet their vitality transition targets until a considerable enhance in nuclear energy is a part of the diversified vitality combine,” stated Seth Grae, CEO of Lightbridge, a U.S.-based nuclear gasoline expertise improvement firm. Grae informed POWER, “Now could be the time to get happening deploying new nuclear vitality capability.”
Swedish officers additionally stated the nation may raise its ban on mining for uranium as a part of the efforts to help nuclear energy. Sweden accounts for about 80% of the European Union’s uranium deposits. The nation at the moment extracts uranium as a byproduct in the course of the mining of different metals. Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson, in a latest deal with to the nation’s parliament, stated of the federal government’s strikes, “This creates the circumstances for nuclear energy. We’d like extra electrical energy manufacturing, we want clear electrical energy, and we want a steady vitality system.”
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1. The Forsmark nuclear energy plant, proven right here, has three boiling water reactors and produces about one-sixth of Sweden’s electrical energy. The items, with complete technology capability of about 3,300 MW, have been commissioned between 1980 and 1985. Sweden has six working nuclear reactors, together with two on the Ringhals plant, and one at Oskarshamn. Courtesy: Vattenfall |
Sweden at current receives about 98% of its energy from nuclear, wind, and hydro. There are at the moment six reactors in operation at three websites (Determine 1). Mariano Grossi, director basic of the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA), talking in late August throughout an official go to to Sweden, stated, “For greater than half a century, Sweden has been one of many leaders internationally with regards to nuclear expertise. It’s now taking steps to facilitate a brand new enlargement part to satisfy an anticipated fast progress within the demand for electrical energy to energy its financial system. It’s a frontrunner within the clear vitality transition, already relying virtually completely on nuclear, hydro, and renewables for its vitality wants.”
Grossi, who met with officers in Stockholm in his first go to to Sweden since taking workplace 4 years in the past, stated, “My discussions in Stockholm with senior authorities, regulatory, and business officers have demonstrated a shared understanding that the world wants extra nuclear vitality to have the ability to struggle the local weather disaster successfully. Reliably producing dispatchable energy 24/7, nuclear is a perfect accomplice to wind and photo voltaic. The IAEA is following developments in Sweden with nice curiosity and stands prepared to offer any help which may be requested. I’m very inspired by what I’m seeing right here.”
Nuclear energy supplied about 30% of Sweden’s electrical energy final 12 months. Officers in selling nuclear energy have stated the expertise will depend towards the nation’s purpose of manufacturing all its vitality from renewable assets by 2045. “Sweden is seeking to double its electrical energy manufacturing whereas slicing down on fossil fuels. The one manner that plan can work is one other supply of vitality is definitely out there and is each bountiful and environment friendly sufficient to successfully substitute for LNG [liquefied natural gas] or oil. Nuclear is the one type of vitality that may meet that degree of demand within the foreseeable couple of a long time,” stated Irina Tsukerman, president of Scarab Rising and a geopolitical analyst. Tsukerman additionally stated using domestically produced uranium as gasoline will likely be essential, telling POWER, “The plan on lifting the ban on mining uranium is pragmatic and crucial to satisfy the amount of nuclear vitality demand arising from this plan.”
Jerrold Vincent, co-founder of U.S.-based Nuclearn.ai, a bunch engaged on synthetic intelligence for the nuclear business, informed POWER it’s not stunning Sweden needs to broaden its nuclear energy fleet. “With its massive clear energy technology capability, nuclear energy is a crucial a part of a diversified, economical, and sustainable clear vitality combine,” stated Vincent. “Technological progress in superior reactor design, small modular reactors [SMRs], and enhancements in administrative operations utilizing synthetic intelligence are frequently driving down prices whereas bettering security.”
Vattenfall, Sweden’s state-owned utility, has stated it’s constructing at the very least two SMRs, and is ready to increase the working lifetime of the nation’s present reactors as a part of the nuclear-focused technique. Anna Borg, Vattenfall’s CEO, stated the SMRs may very well be constructed close to the Ringhals nuclear energy plant, whereas noting that “all fossil-free vitality sorts will likely be wanted to satisfy the growing demand for electrical energy in Sweden.”
Vincent additionally reiterated that help for home mining of uranium will likely be essential. “Sweden has the biggest amount of uranium deposits in Europe, presenting a singular alternative to insulate themselves from different gasoline sources whose value and availability have been affected by latest geopolitical instability,” he stated. “There’s no severe dialog about the way forward for clear vitality that doesn’t contain nuclear—and Sweden is uniquely well-suited to take benefit.”
Scott Holcombe, vp of engineering for Lightbridge, informed POWER, “Sweden has been a robust nuclear energy nation for many years with out mining their native uranium,” however famous that “having a home provide of uranium can be helpful for any nation’s home nuclear business.” Holcombe, previously a nuclear gasoline efficiency engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority, stated it’s possible Sweden would search for reactor applied sciences from the U.S., France, and South Korea. “Sweden is within the strategy of becoming a member of NATO; reactors from Russia or China are at a robust drawback in comparison with different reactor distributors,” he stated. “I consider the utilities should observe any relevant nationwide and EU [European Union] capital funding laws and undergo a traditional bid course of the place they take into account reactors from a number of reactor distributors earlier than they choose the ultimate candidate(s).”
W.A. “Artwork” Wharton III, a nuclear skilled, and CEO and president of Studsvik Scandpower, a Swedish nuclear reactor software program evaluation firm, informed POWER, “The timing of Sweden’s reversal of 4 a long time of poor nuclear coverage coincided with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Because the Swedes grapple with the realities of offering a sturdy and dependable electrical energy and district heating provide, their have to replenish the retiring nuclear fleet grew to become clear and unambiguous as soon as it grew to become obvious that it couldn’t be made up with extra hydro, wind, or photo voltaic. Counting on nuclear vitality gives Sweden with probably the most vitality independence and strong and dependable provide of vitality for the altering world dynamics.”
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2. There may be rising world curiosity in GE Hitachi Nuclear Vitality’s (GEH’s) BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) design. GEH stated it has memoranda of understanding or different agreements in place with firms in Canada, Poland, UK, U.S., and Sweden, amongst others. Courtesy: GEH |
Wharton continued, “Sweden is a really sensible nation and can possible look towards newer LWR (gentle water reactor) applied sciences together with massive and small modular reactors, however the latest focus seems to be on SMRs. One latest partnership of notice is Kärnfull Subsequent with GE Hitachi for the potential to construct BWRX-300 items [Figure 2] on the Studsvik website. Moreover, they’ve new reactor expertise firms in Sweden together with Blykalla [literal translation: “lead cold”] which is growing a Gen IV reactor utilizing molten lead coolant. U.S. nuclear firms have a robust footprint in Sweden, in order that they’ll possible be concerned in a number of of the tasks.”
Wharton, who previous to becoming a member of Studsvik Scandpower labored at nuclear large Westinghouse Electrical Co. for greater than a decade, stated, “The grid in Sweden is deregulated since 1996, however electrical energy costs are excessive proper now. For long-term capital investments similar to nuclear energy crops, surety of value will likely be a key issue for buyers.” Grae informed POWER, “Typically, non-public buyers have an interest provided that there’s important authorities help. There may very well be a risk of vendor financing for a part of the price, and maybe help from the export credit score company within the vendor nation.”
Wharton stated a number of elements may influence Sweden’s timeline to construct new reactors. He informed POWER, “The economic capabilities of Sweden are extremely developed, however their regulator SSM [Swedish Radiation Safety Authority] doesn’t have a whole lot of workers for full evaluations of licenses. The job marketplace for nuclear-experienced engineers in Sweden has additionally been comparatively flat for a number of a long time, so I’d anticipate a 10-year horizon with human assets being the primary limiting issue to stand up and working.”
Holcombe agreed, saying, “I’m not conscious of any circumstances in Sweden that may result in an expectation of a distinct timeline for brand spanking new reactors as in comparison with different Western nations, so the timeline may very well be much like different nations deploying western-designed reactors.”
Stated Grae: “Using the identical crew to deploy the same plant would almost definitely give better assurance as to the timeline. Industrial operation inside 10 years may very well be cheap, with building time of 5 years if the reactor vendor and EPC [engineering, procurement, and construction] agency have deployed the same unit just lately.”
Grossi, in his latest assembly with Swedish officers together with SSM Director Common Michael Knochenhauer, stated the IAEA’s new Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI)—a program designed to reinforce harmonization of regulatory actions and standardize industrial approaches—would encourage new reactor designs, significantly for SMRs. Grossi stated the IAEA just lately performed two nuclear security overview missions in Sweden, and he famous the significance of securing monetary help for nuclear energy tasks. “Nuclear vitality typically—and SMRs specifically—is producing a lot of pleasure amongst firms and utilities. We see a pure partnership between the IAEA and business in these areas,” he stated.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior affiliate editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).
