Nuclear power boom – students are attracted by the growth

At the Royal University of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, the number of applicants for nuclear energy technology has increased from 60 in 2021 to 116 applicants by autumn 2023.

- We have the highest search pressure we have ever had.

I think a large part comes from the fact that there is a lot of media attention around nuclear power and seeing it as an industry of the future, says Pär Olsson, professor of nuclear physics and head of education at KTH.

Students from all over the world

This year, around forty students are studying, but this autumn KTH will expand the class.

There are only a few Swedish students today.

The vast majority are from other countries such as France, South Korea, and Spain among others.

But many of these stay and work with nuclear power in Sweden, according to Pär Olsson.

At Chalmers in Gothenburg, which stopped its education five years ago, it is now possible to start a new program in the area.

And in Uppsala, which has the country's second nuclear power education, there are still few but twice as many students this year (12).

Shortages could stop new nuclear power

But at the same time, the Radiation Safety Authority, Swedish industry, and companies are warning that it is a lack of competence that could prevent the development of new nuclear power in Sweden.

- Yes, it is, and it's not just engineers, it's an entire industrial ecosystem, like we had in the 70s and 80s, which must be in place for it to be possible to build new nuclear power.

It is now a bit in ruins, so we have to make a sustained investment to make this possible, says Anton Steen, director of community relations at Fortum, which is looking at building new smaller seismic power plants.

- If we are late to the ball to start new large nuclear power projects, other countries will absorb the competence that exists, says Pär Olsson.

Sweden will fight with the whole world for nuclear experts?

- Yes exactly.

Nuclear power has been floated in many countries as a possible solution to the energy and climate crisis.

It is not only Sweden that will electrify.