Vattenfall is initiating a feasibility study looking at the conditions for building at least two small modular reactors (SMRs) adjacent to the Ringhals nuclear power plant in Sweden.
In a bid to identify fossil-free energy sources to meet southern Sweden’s growing electricity demand, the study will focus on the conditions for building SMRs in the southern bidding zones, primarily close to Ringhals nuclear power plant.
Have you read?
How nuclear-enabled hydrogen can help UK hit net zero
Westinghouse and Bloom Energy push hydrogen produced from nuclear
“No investment decisions have been made but, during the spring, Vattenfall’s management team have been working on the issue of new nuclear power in Sweden,” said Vattenfall’s CEO Anna Borg in a statement.
“Provided that a feasibility study concludes that it would be profitable and all other conditions for a future investment decision are met, in particular, new regulations for nuclear power, it should be possible to have the first SMR reactor in operation by the early 2030s”.
Work on the feasibility study will begin immediately, will be complete by early 2024, and will assess the conditions required to build two nuclear reactor units.
According to Torbjörn Wahlborg, head of Business Area Generation at Vattenfall, Ringhals is a suitable location for this project due to the existing skill level and grid infrastructure, as well as public acceptance of nuclear power and legislative frameworks that allow Ringhals 1 and Ringhals 2 to be replaced.
Ringhals nuclear power plant is located about 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden. In commercial operation since 1976, the power plant has two pressurised water reactors and produces around 17TWh per year. Ringhals 1 and Ringhals 2 were decommissioned at the end of 2020 and 2019, respectively. Vattenfall plans for Ringhals 3 and 4 to operate for at least 60 years.
