Axpo wants to keep Switzerland’s oldest nuclear power plant running until 2033
Published: Thursday, Dec 5th 2024, 15:40
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Switzerland will benefit from electricity from nuclear power for longer than expected. The reactor in Beznau - the oldest nuclear power plant in the world that is still on the grid - is set to run until 2033, i.e. for 64 years. This sets the standard for the other three Swiss nuclear power plants.
This morning, Axpo, Switzerland's largest energy company, made the surprising announcement that Block 2 of the nuclear power plant will continue to run until 2032 and Block 1 until 2033. Beznau 1 has been on the grid since 1969 and Beznau 2 since 1971. Previously, there had been no specific shutdown date for either of the two reactors.
As things stand today, the Gösgen nuclear power plant, in which Alpiq holds a 40% stake and therefore manages the plant, is expected to run for at least 60 years. Gösgen began commercial operation in 1979 and should therefore continue to produce electricity until at least 2039.
And Switzerland's newest and largest nuclear power plant in Leibstadt, which has been in operation since 1984, is expected to produce electricity until at least 2045. In addition to Axpo, the electricity companies Alpiq and BKW are also involved in the Leibstadt nuclear power plant.
With the blessing of Ensi
The long-term operation of the nuclear power plants until around 2050 is one of the technological options that have sufficient production capacity, are affordable and at the same time CO2-neutral, said Axpo CEO Christoph Brand at the annual media conference on Thursday. External specialists were consulted in the decision-making process and, last but not least, the supervisory authority Ensi - which issues the operating licenses - was also consulted.
On the question of whether the decision on Beznau's lifespan also means that Leibstadt could also run until 2050, he said: "There is no decision yet." This discussion would first have to be held about Gösgen and then at some point the time would also come for Leibstadt.
However, the shutdown of the newest nuclear power plant is not yet an issue and high investments are planned. The shareholders have already invested over 1.5 billion Swiss francs in maintenance and renovation since 1984. Further investments of around CHF 1 billion are planned up to 2032.
70 years unthinkable
With a service life of 64 years, Axpo's management seems to have achieved the longest possible service life. The possibility that Beznau could be operated for even longer, or even 70 years, is ruled out, said Brand. Originally, there was talk of a possible service life of 50 years for the Swiss nuclear reactors. Most recently, the industry was saying at least 60 years.
The Beznau nuclear power plant produces around 6 terawatt hours of electricity per year, which corresponds to the consumption of 1.3 million four-person households. After hydropower, Switzerland's four nuclear power plants are the largest pillar of electricity production. Together, they produced a third of Switzerland's electricity in 2023.
After 2050, new nuclear power plants and/or CO2-neutral gas-fired power plants are theoretically conceivable, Brand continued. In this context, the Axpo CEO is also pleased about Energy Minister Albert Rösti's plans to lift the ban on new nuclear power plant construction. He welcomes the decision because it would open up options for the Swiss energy supply.
Construction of a nuclear power plant too expensive for Axpo
In the end, the Swiss population will decide anyway, said Brand. And even if the Swiss vote in favor of new nuclear power plants, it is still not clear how the financial risks for possible construction and operation could be dealt with.
"The construction of a nuclear power plant of the existing generation is not economically feasible for a company," Brand said in an interview with AWP Video: "Only the state can do that."
The service life of nuclear power plants is not limited by law as long as they are safe. However, new construction is currently prohibited in this country. The population agreed to this in 2017 when they approved the revised Energy Act with 58% of the vote.
Federal Councillor Albert Rösti wants to remove the ban on the construction of nuclear power plants from the law and draw up a draft amendment to the Nuclear Energy Act by the end of the year. According to him, modern nuclear power plants should be able to be built if necessary. However, the withdrawal from the nuclear phase-out has not yet found a majority in parliament.
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