The Ringhals 2 nuclear power reactor was closed in December 2019 and Ringhals 1 was taken out of operation in December 2020. Without the reactors, it has been difficult to cope with the coldest days, which has increased Sweden's need to import electricity, even though Sweden has a surplus from a year-round perspective.
During the coldest days, some industries have had to reduce production as electricity prices have skyrocketed.
Although wind power has been expanded in recent years - it is not possible to rely on it blowing enough, especially during the coldest months.
In addition, the power lines between north and south are too small and will take 20 years to dismantle.
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Sweden has imported electricity from Germany, Denmark, Poland and Lithuania
L: "Pretty embarrassing"
Therefore, says the Liberals' climate policy spokesperson Joar Forssell in Monday's Aktuellt, that Sweden needs to return to investing in nuclear power in order to secure the electricity supply and prevent climate change.
- This government has pursued a policy that has meant that it has used subsidies and regulations that have caused nuclear power to lose some of its capacity that it actually has and that is needed for us to have an electricity system that allows us to energy when we need it at a cost-effective price.
MP: "Imports less than before"
However, this is not true, according to the Green Party's climate policy spokesperson Lorentz Tovatt, who believes that it is inevitable to import electricity on a few occasions a year.
As an environmental artist, how do you see using electricity that contributes to the greenhouse effect?
- On an annual basis, we are huge exporters of electricity.
Then it works so that if we are to be connected to the world around us, we will have to import a few individual hours a year.
We have other methods for reducing emissions in total.