Nuclear power in Sweden: Difference between revisions
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{{Sweden nuke plant map}} |
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'''[[Sweden]]''' has an [[energy policy]] focused on [[hydroelectricity]], which has been supplemented by [[nuclear power]] starting in 1965. |
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The country began research into [[nuclear energy]] in 1947 with the establishment of the Atomic Energy Research Organization. In 1964, the country built its first small [[heavy water reactor]]. The government decided to use [[hydropower]] and supplement it with nuclear energy to avoid falling victim to the perennial volatility in [[oil prices]]. Six [[nuclear reactors]] began commercial service in both the 1970s and 1980s, with one unit closed in 1999 and another in 2005. |
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Sweden currently has three operational [[nuclear power plants]], with ten operational [[nuclear reactor]]s, which produce about 45% of the country's electricity. The nation's largest [[power station]], [[Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant]], has four reactors and generates about a fifth of Sweden's annual [[electricity consumption]].<ref>[http://www.ringhals.se/ Vattenfall - QuickLink<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The power plants in [[Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant|Forsmark]] and [[Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant|Oskarshamn]] each have three reactors. |
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Sweden formerly had a [[Nuclear energy policy|nuclear phase-out policy]], aiming to end nuclear power generation in Sweden by 2010. On 5 February 2009, the Swedish Government announced an agreement allowing for the replacement of existing reactors, effectively ending the phase-out policy. |
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==Chronology== |
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[[Image:Electricity production in Sweden.PNG|thumbnail|right|Electricity production in Sweden by type]] |
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[[Image:Electric production in sweden 1964-2009.PNG|thumb|Nuclear power production in Sweden by reactor]] |
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Electricity production in Sweden is dominated by nuclear power and [[hydroelectricity]] which currently make about equal contributions to energy production, for which demand has remained fairly constant since 1990. |
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On 1 May 1969, a prototype nuclear cogeneration plant outside [[Stockholm]], [[Ågestaverket]] (R3) suffered an incident in which secondary cooling water flooded through a broken valve and caused a number of electrical problems in the plant, resulting in a 4-day shutdown.<ref>[http://www.stralsakerhetsmyndigheten.se/Global/Publikationer/Rapport/Sakerhet-vid-karnkraftverken/1996/SKI-Rapport-1996-51.pdf The Flooding Incident at the Ågesta Pressurized Heavy Water Nuclear Power Plant (pdf)]</ref> |
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R1, R3, and particularly the never finished R4 project at Marviken were heavy water reactors which could have been used to produce weapons grade plutonium for Swedish nuclear warheads. The Swedish nuclear weapons program was eventually shut down, however, and Sweden signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1968.<ref>"Neutral Sweden Quietly Keeps Nuclear Option Open", ''[[The Washington Post]]'', November 25, 1994</ref> |
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After the partial meltdown at the [[Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station]] ([[United States]]) in 1979, there was a referendum in [[Sweden]] about the future of nuclear power there. As a result of this, the Swedish parliament decided in 1980 that no further nuclear power plants should be built, and that a nuclear power phase-out should be completed by 2010. Some observers have condemned the referendum as flawed because people could only vote "NO to nuclear", although three options were basically a harder or a softer "NO".{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} |
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After the 1986 [[Chernobyl accident]] in [[Ukraine]], the question of security of nuclear energy was again raised. In 1997{{Verify source|date=April 2010}} the [[Parliament of Sweden|Riksdag]], the Swedish parliament, decided to shut down one of the [[Nuclear reactor|reactors]] at [[Barsebäck nuclear power plant|Barsebäck]] by 1 July 1998 and the second before 1 July 2001, although under the condition that their energy production would be compensated. The next conservative government tried to cancel the phase-out, but, after protests, did not cancel it but instead decided to extend the time limit to 2010. At Barsebäck, block 1 was shut down on 30 November 1999 and block 2 on 1 June 2005. |
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In June, 2005, radioactive water was detected leaking from the nuclear waste store in Forsmark, Sweden. The content of radioactive caesium in the water sampled was ten times the normal value. [[wikinews:Radioactive leakage at Swedish nuclear waste store]]. |
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In August 2006 three of Sweden's ten nuclear reactors were shut down due to safety concerns following an incident at [[Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant]], in which two out of four emergency power generators failed causing a power shortage. Cooling systems however worked and shutdown was successful without incident.<ref>http://www-news.iaea.org/news/topics/topic/default.asp?topicID=817</ref> Another reactor in Forsmark and a fifth at Ringhals nuclear power plant have been offline due to planned maintenance work. With five of its ten reactors down, Sweden's power generation capacity is down by almost a fifth. [[wikinews:Swedish nuclear reactors shut down over safety concerns]] |
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In 2006 the [[Centre Party of Sweden]], an opposition party that supported the phase-out, announced that it is dropping its opposition to nuclear power, at least for the time being, claiming that it is unrealistic to expect the phase-out in the short term. It said it would now support the stance of the other opposition parties in [[Alliance for Sweden]], which were considerably more pro-nuclear than the then [[Socialdemokraterna|Social Democratic]] government.<ref>[http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3940&date=20060530&PHPSESSID=4af44e9bb9f9e6d01e049596bf3f7660 Centre dumps nuclear deal], [[The Local]], 30 May 2006</ref> |
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On 17 June 2010, the [[Swedish Parliament]] adopted a decision allowing the replacement of the existing reactors with new nuclear reactors, starting from 1 January 2011 .<ref name=wnn180610> |
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{{cite news |
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| url= http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP_New_phase_for_Swedish_nuclear_1806101.html |
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| title= New phase for Swedish nuclear |
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| date= 2010-06-18 |
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| work= World Nuclear News |
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| accessdate= 2010-06-18}} |
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</ref> |
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==Public opinion== |
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The nuclear energy phase-out is controversial in Sweden. The energy production of the remaining nuclear power plants has been considerably increased in recent years to compensate for the Barsebäck shut-down. |
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A poll in May 2005 that polled residents that lived around Barsebäck found that 94% wanted it to stay. The subsequent leak of radioactive water from the nuclear waste store in Forsmark did not lead to a major change in public opinion.<ref>[http://sydsvenskan.se/skane/article115573.ece Vindkraftverk möter största motståndet i Skåne], [[Sydsvenskan]], August 15, 2005</ref> According to a poll of January 2008, as many as 48% of the Swedes are in favour of building new nuclear reactors, 39% are opposed and 13% are undecided. This is in contrast to the stance of the major political parties in Sweden, the only one of which in favour of building new reactors is the [[Folkpartiet|Liberal party]].<ref>[http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=147&a=734935 Varannan svensk vill ha nya kärnkraftverk], [[Dagens Nyheter]], January 20, 2008</ref> |
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==The advisory referendum on nuclear power (1980)== |
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As a consequence of the debate following the [[Three Mile Island accident]], an advisory [[referendum]] was held in [[Sweden]] on March 23, 1980 (see [[Referendums in Sweden]]). Swedish voters were given three choices: |
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* The [[ballot]] for "Linje 1" read: |
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::"Nuclear power shall be phased out, while taking consideration of the need for electric power for the maintenance of employment and welfare. In order to, among other things, lessen the dependency on [[petroleum|oil]], and while waiting for the availability of renewable energy sources, at most 12 of the reactors shall be used, be they existing or under construction. No further expansion is to take place. The order in which the [[nuclear reactor|reactors]] will be taken out of production will be determined by security concerns." |
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:There was no text on the reverse side of the ballot. |
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* The front side of the ballot for "Linje 2" had almost identical wording to that of "Linje 1". However, on the reverse side, the following text was added: |
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::"Energy conservation shall be pursued vigorously and stimulated further. The weakest groups in society shall be protected. Measures shall be taken to control consumption of electricity, e.g. prohibiting direct electric heating in the construction of new permanent housing. |
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::Research and development of renewable energy sources shall be pursued under the leadership of the community (read: "the government"). |
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::Environmental and safety improving measures are to be carried out. A special safety study is to be made at each reactor. To allow insight by the citizens a special security committee with local ties is appointed at each nuclear power plant. |
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::Production of electricity from oil and coal is to be avoided. |
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::The community (read: "the government") shall have the main responsibility for production and distribution of electric power. Nuclear power plants and other future installations for the production of significant electric power shall be owned by the state and by the [[Municipalities of Sweden|municipalities]]. Excessive profits from hydroelectric power generation are reduced by taxation." |
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:The last point was controversial and the most important reason why the [[Moderate Party]] couldn't consider supporting "Linje 2". |
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* The front side of the ballot for "Linje 3" read: |
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::"NO to continued expansion of nuclear power. |
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::Phasing out of the currently operating six reactors with at most ten years. A conservation plan for reduced dependency on oil is to be carried through on the basis of: |
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::* continued and intensified energy conservation |
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::* greatly increased development of renewable energy sources. |
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::The operating reactors are subjected to heightened safety requirements. Non-fueled reactors will never be put into production. |
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::[[Uranium mining]] is to be prohibited in our country." |
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:The reverse side of the ballot read: |
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::"If ongoing or future safety analyses demand it, immediate shutdown is to take place. |
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::The work against [[nuclear proliferation]] and [[nuclear weapon]]s shall be intensified. No fuel enrichment is permitted and the export of reactors and reactor technology is to cease. |
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::Employment will increase through alternative energy production, more effective conservation of energy and refinement of raw materials." |
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The results of the referendum were: 18.9% in support of alternative 1, 39.1% for alternative 2, and 38.7% for alternative 3.<ref>Statistisk Årsbok 1994</ref> |
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Following the referendum the [[Parliament of Sweden|Swedish parliament]] decided that no further nuclear power plants should be built, and that a nuclear power phase-out should be completed by 2010. |
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== Nuclear waste == |
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Sweden has a well-developed nuclear waste management policy. Low-level waste is currently stored at the reactor sites or destroyed at [[Studsvik]]. The country has dedicated a ship to move waste from power plants to repositories. Sweden has also constructed a permanent underground [[geological repository|repository]] with a capacity of 63,000 cubic meters for intermediate and low-level waste. The government has also identified two potential candidates for burial of additional waste (high-level), Oskarshamn and Osthammar.<ref name="inf42"> |
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{{cite web |
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| url=http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |
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| title=Nuclear Energy in Sweden |
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| work=World Nuclear Association |
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| month= April | year=2010 |
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| accessdate=2010-06-20 |
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}}</ref> |
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===Photo gallery=== |
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<gallery> |
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Image:Forsmark3.jpg|The [[Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant]] |
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Image:Oskarshamns-kärnkraftverk.jpg|The [[Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant]] |
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Image:Ringhals.JPG|The [[Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant]] |
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Image:Barsebäck.jpg|The now shut down [[Barsebäck Nuclear Power Plant]] |
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</gallery> |
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== See also == |
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* [[Politics of Sweden]] |
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* [[Nuclear energy policy]] |
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* ''[[Making Sweden an Oil-Free Society]]'' |
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* [[Energy policy of the European Union]] |
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== References == |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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== Further reading == |
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*William D. Nordhaus, ''The Swedish Nuclear Dilemma — Energy and the Environment'', 1997 Hardcover, ISBN 0-915707-84-5. |
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== External links == |
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*{{cite web |
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| url= http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |
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| title= Nuclear Power in Sweden |
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| year= 2009 | month= January | work= Country Briefings | publisher= [[World Nuclear Association]] (WNA) |
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| accessdate= 2009-04-18 }} |
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;News |
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* August 3, 2006, ''[[BBC]]'': [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5241780.stm Swedes shut down some nuclear reactors following testing failures] |
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{{Energy in Sweden}} |
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{{Europe topic|Nuclear energy in|state=expand}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nuclear Power In Sweden}} |
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[[Category:Nuclear energy in Sweden]] |
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[[Category:Electric power in Sweden]] |
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[[fr:Liste des centrales nucléaires de Suède]] |
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[[it:Energia nucleare in Svezia]] |
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[[sv:Kärnkraft i Sverige]] |
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Revision as of 00:06, 16 May 2011
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