Framework Application Submitted For New Swiss Nuclear Plant
Written by NucNet
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
NucNet News No. 44
10 Jun (NucNet): An application to build a new third generation
light-water reactor (LWR) unit in Switzerland has been submitted for a
general licence - a 'framework approval' - to the Swiss Federal Office
of Energy.
Swiss utility Atel Holding Ltd said today that the application* to build the unit in the Niederamt County of Solothurn Canton was submitted yesterday by Kernkraftwerk Niederamt AG, a project company formed by Atel. It will be responsible for the planning, building, obtaining necessary approvals and operation of the proposed plant.
The proposed unit, with a generating capacity of 1,100 megawatts electric (MWe) or 1,600 MWe, would be built in the vicinity of the existing Goesgen nuclear plant and could be commissioned after 2020.
The estimated cost of the project is 6 to 7 billion Swiss francs (about 7 billion US dollars, 4.5 billion euro).
Atel said it is "acting in step" with government energy policy which provides for the possible replacement of the country's existing nuclear plants when necessary and the construction of new plants. That policy also provides for contractual agreements, expiring in the coming decades, relating to supply from French nuclear units. Yesterday's application is subject to an optional national referendum before a construction permit may be issued.
The site of the proposed new plant, which Atel said would conform to European Standards (EUR) for third generation LWRs, is described by Atel as a technically "very suitable" location particularly in terms of space, grid connections, cooling requirements, support by regional authorities and acceptance by the local population.
Atel is looking for partners to invest in the project, in particular the operators of existing Swiss nuclear plants, and said it is talking to "various interested parties".
"This project represents an important contribution to the long-term security of supply in Switzerland. As all of Europe is suffering a shortfall in supply, not much electricity can be imported from abroad. In spite of enormous investments, the potential of the new renewable energies can only be exploited fully in the long term," said Atel.
"We therefore have no choice in the medium term but to focus on nuclear energy. It is an established component of the Swiss electricity mix and is an ideal supplement to hydropower and the new renewable energies."
In December 2007, a separate project was announced by the Swiss utilities Axpo group and BKW FMB Energie. They have created a joint venture company called Resun to develop plans for the eventual replacement of units one and two of the country's Beznau nuclear plant and the single-unit Muehleberg plant.
*Details of the application are on Atel's web site (www.atel.eu) in English, German, French and Italian.
- by John Shepherd
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Swiss Government Says Replacement Nuclear Needed To Close 'Energy Gap' (News No. 47, 22 February 2007)
New Swiss Joint Venture Looks To Replacement Of Three Reactor Units (World Nuclear Review No. 50, 14 December 2007)
The NucNet database currently contains more than 12,000 reports published since 1991. To subscribe or ask for any further information email
Because of successive changes, much of SONE's literature gives incorrect information about contacting us. The Acting Secretary is Sir Bernard Ingham at:
