Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Nuclear Country Notes

Sweden

Between 1971 and 1985 a total of 12 nuclear reactors (nine BWRs and three PWRs) commenced operation. The 10 units remaining in service at end-2005 had an aggregate net capacity of 8 961 MWe. Nuclear power provided 46.6% of Sweden's net output of electricity in 2005.

In June 1997, the Swedish Parliament took a decision to start the phasing-out of nuclear power. The decision specified that the two units, 600 MWe each, at the Barsebäck nuclear station were to be closed by end-June 1998 and end-June 2001, respectively; an earlier decision with regard to a final date for total nuclear phase-out by 2010 was explicitly removed, without specifying an alternative final date.

The execution of the first closure was delayed by legal conflicts between the owner, Sydkraft, and the Government. During November 1999 an agreement was reached concerning the level of compensation, and Barsebäck-1 was permanently taken out of operation at the end of the month, without the closure being enforced by law. The Barsebäck-2 reactor was shut down on 31 May 2005.

Sweden's nuclear capacity at end-2020 is forecast by the WEC Member Committee to total 10 400 MWe from 10 units, implying that an overall increase of some 1 440 MWe (or 16.1%) is obtained as a result of the uprating of existing reactors during the period 2006-2020.

Power uprates totalling 200 MWe for the Ringhals-1 and -3 reactors were accorded government approval in October 2005. In June 2006, sanction was also given for a 250 MWe increase in the capacity of the Oskarshamn reactor, to be carried out during 2008. Plans have also been announced for an uprate of the capacity of Forsmark's three reactors by 410 MWe between 2009 and 2011.

In October 2006, Sweden's new Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, stated that no political decision would be taken on phasing out nuclear power before 2010 and that renewed operating licences would not be issued for the Barsebäck reactors. He said that no construction of new reactors would be started before 2010, although the Government would consider applications to uprate existing nuclear capacity.