Vattenfall believes that new small nuclear power reactors, so-called SMRs, can provide cheaper profitable electricity production.

Therefore, the company is now initiating a feasibility study on the conditions for building at least two small modular reactors in connection with the closed Ringhals nuclear power plant north of Varberg. 

- All fossil-free energy types will be needed to meet the increasing electricity demand in Sweden.

SMR is a fossil-free technology that has developed a lot in recent times, says Vattenfall's CEO Anna Borg in a press release. 

SMRs, small modular reactors, mean nuclear power plants of up to 300 MW - a quarter of the power of a large reactor.

And a technology where series production in the factory will provide prefabricated reactors at a cheaper price.

The feasibility study will be completed within a few years

If the feasibility study concludes that it would be profitable and all other conditions for a future investment decision would be met, Vattenfall believes that it would be possible to have a first SMR reactor in operation in the early 2030s.

For this to become a reality, however, a change in the law may be needed.

According to the Environmental Code, today you can only build nuclear reactors where there are already nuclear power plants - and a total of a maximum of 10 reactors in the country.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed by the turn of the year 2023-2024.

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This is how the nuclear reactors of the future work: "The price is the biggest difference" Photo: SVT