New nuclear power plant construction is not (yet) an issue for the Swiss energy sector
Published: Wednesday, Dec 18th 2024, 11:20
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The energy sector is skeptical about the construction of new nuclear power plants (NPPs). However, the electricity companies are in favor of technological openness. The more options there are in the long term, the better.
The construction of new nuclear power plants is currently prohibited in Switzerland. The population agreed to this when they approved the revised Energy Act in 2017 with 58% of the vote. However, Federal Councillor Albert Rösti wants to remove the ban on the construction of nuclear power plants from the law and has announced a corresponding bill.
In principle, the energy companies welcome this initiative: "Should parliament wish to discuss the lifting of the ban on new builds again by amending the Nuclear Energy Act, Axpo would welcome this in the interests of technological openness," said Switzerland's largest energy company in response to a question from the news agency AWP.
Risks too high
"The more options we have for the future, the more room for maneuver for our security of supply," says the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (VSE). "From a strategic point of view, it is therefore wrong to rule out future options today and thus limit the scope for action," it continues.
However, the question of new construction does not currently arise for the companies; the utilities are clear on this point. "Even if the ban on new construction is lifted, this does not mean that new nuclear power plants will necessarily be built," says Axpo. From a business perspective, the financial, regulatory and political risks would be too high as things stand today.
Alpiq is also generally in favor of technological openness, but wants to concentrate on ensuring the long-term operation of existing nuclear power plants at the moment. "This will require a great deal of attention," says Olten. At the same time, the planned projects in the areas of hydropower, alpine photovoltaics and wind power are to be implemented.
Perhaps part of the solution in the long term
An expansion of nuclear power is also not part of BKW's current strategy period up to 2030, as stated in response to an inquiry. In Bern, the focus in the short to medium term is on projects to generate electricity from renewable energies.
The fifth Swiss nuclear power plant in Mühleberg, once operated by BKW, has now been offline for five years. The decommissioning was a business decision: the upgrades demanded after the accident in Fukushima, Japan, would not have been worthwhile according to the management at the time
In the long term, however, BKW remains open to new technologies. "If society wants to achieve climate targets in the future, guarantee security of supply and give top priority to an unspoiled landscape, new nuclear power plants can play a role as part of the solution in the long term," it says. However, the prerequisite for the construction and economic operation of a new nuclear power plant would be "a broad-based social consensus that is sustainable over decades", as well as "appropriate political and legal framework conditions".
Cost-effectiveness as a tricky nut to crack
Axpo CEO Christoph Brand said it very clearly in an interview with AWP Video around two weeks ago: "The construction of a nuclear power plant of the existing generation is not economically feasible for a company. Only the state can do that."
In any case, the energy industry association VSE points out that a definitive decision on the lifting of the ban on general licensing, including a referendum, will not be made for at least a few years. "This makes it all the more important to do everything we can to guarantee our supply for the next 10 to 15 years - there is no alternative to the expansion of hydro, solar and wind power."
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