Vattenfall initiates a feasibility study that looks at the conditions for building at least two small modular reactors (SMR) in connection with Ringhals nuclear power plant in Sweden.

In an attempt to identify fossil-free energy sources to meet southern Sweden’s growing electricity needs, the study will focus on the conditions for building SMR in the southern budzones, primarily near Ringhals nuclear power plant.

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– No investment decisions have been made, but during the spring, Vattenfall’s management team worked on the issue of new nuclear power in Sweden.

“Provided that a feasibility study concludes that it would be profitable and that all other conditions for a future investment decision are met, in particular new rules for nuclear power, it should be possible to have the first SMR reactor in operation in the early 2030s. , ”Says Vattenfall’s CEO Anna Borg in a statement.

Work on the feasibility study will begin immediately, will be completed in early 2024 and will assess the conditions required to build two nuclear reactor units.

According to Torbjörn Wahlborg, head of the Generation business area at Vattenfall, Ringhals is a suitable location for this project due to the existing level of expertise and network infrastructure, as well as public acceptance of nuclear power and regulations that allow Ringhals 1 and Ringhals 2 to be replaced.

Ringhals nuclear power plant is located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast. In commercial operation since 1976, the power plant has two pressurized water reactors and produces approximately 17TWh per year. Ringhals 1 and Ringhals 2 were discontinued at the end of 2020 and 2019, respectively. Vattenfall plans for Ringhals 3 and 4 to be in operation for at least 60 years.