The Swedish government has announced a roadmap for the expansion of nuclear energy. The roadmap outlines plans to build new nuclear power plants that will generate at least as much electricity as two large-scale reactors by 2035. The plan also includes the construction of up to ten new large-scale reactors by 2045. According to the Tidö Agreement, signed by the incoming centre-right coalition government in October 2022, the energy policy goal was changed from 100% renewable to 100% fossil-free. The agreement stipulated that the electricity demand in 2045 should be at least 300 TWh, which is twice the current demand.
The agreement also called for the development of necessary regulations to create the conditions for the construction and operation of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden. The Swedish government has proposed shortening the permitting process for nuclear power plants. In January 2023, a formal proposal to amend Sweden’s legislation on nuclear power was presented. The Swedish government proposed legislative amendments to remove the current law limiting to 10 the number of reactors in operation. The proposed amendments were open for consultation for three months, and the government made a final decision on 28 September 2023 to introduce the bill to parliament.
The roadmap for the expansion of nuclear energy in Sweden includes an in-depth agreement on four points. Initially, the government will designate an individual as a nuclear power coordinator. This person will be responsible for assisting in the removal of obstacles, as well as facilitating and promoting the development of new nuclear power. The coordinator will also identify the need for additional measures and gather all relevant parties to get a clear direction for effective expansion. Secondly, the state’s financial responsibility should be clarified through a risk-sharing model. The government has previously suggested introducing government credit guarantees worth SEK400 billion (USD38 billion) for nuclear power. Despite the government’s proposed credit guarantees worth SEK400 billion (USD38 billion) for nuclear power, it has been assessed that these guarantees alone will not be sufficient to stimulate new production.
CEO
