TA-Swiss says Switzerland must move quickly on any new nuclear plant

Switzerland would need to start work in the coming years if it wants a new nuclear power plant, because planning and construction take at least 20 years, a TA-Swiss study reported by SRF says. A plant could help keep electricity production within the country, but would require public support and substantial investment.

Peter Burgherr, the study’s project leader and an energy systems researcher at the Paul Scherrer Institute, said that by the time a plant built in 2050 or later came online, other technologies could have advanced enough to change its value to Switzerland.

Renewable power from wind, solar and water would still need to expand, even if a new nuclear plant were built. The study also warns that planning a nuclear plant could slow the development of renewables. Burgherr said that must not happen, and stressed the need for storage and flexibility in the electricity system.

A new plant could reduce Switzerland’s electricity imports, but it would create other foreign dependencies. The country would still have to buy nuclear fuel abroad and send spent fuel abroad for processing. Burgherr noted that most energy technologies involve some reliance on other countries.

The 551-page study sets out the hurdles to building a plant, including choosing a reactor type, deciding whether new legislation would be needed, finding billions of francs in financing and securing a company willing to build it. Swiss voters would also need to support nuclear power in several ballots. A vote on lifting the ban on new plants is due next year, followed potentially by a vote on a construction permit.