The government has promised new nuclear power – and Carl Berglöf is the man who will ensure that the promise becomes reality. In January, he was appointed as the government’s nuclear power coordinator with the task of investigating the conditions and pushing for development.
However, the statistics speak for themselves when it comes to the state of nuclear power within the EU. In the last 20 years, 37 reactors have been closed in the Union. Only three new ones have been commissioned.
– Nuclear power has been a bit on the ice. It is time to change that, says Carl Berglöf.
Solar and wind cheaper
Berglöf has a doctorate in nuclear technology and worked with nuclear power at Vattenfall, so he knows what he’s talking about when he says that there are several obstacles on the way to new nuclear power – apart from the lack of broad political agreement.
Sweden today lacks industries that can build, and many countries are queuing up for the few actors that exist internationally. At the same time, the price is a dilemma. Solar and wind power are often significantly cheaper. According to some surveys, this also applies if you supplement with electronics and batteries to provide the same delivery security around the clock.
The schedule is difficult to keep
To address the problem, Berglöf’s report points to the need for what he describes as a new unified nuclear power program, where the state takes part of the risk and where the costs are spread out.
At the same time, Sweden needs to rebuild its own industrial capacity in nuclear technology, he believes. Faster permit processes are also required because any delay costs money. The last three reactors to be completed in the EU have all suffered huge delays and price increases.
In the 2022 election campaign, Ebba Busch (KD) spoke about new reactors being in place within eight years – 2030 – or even earlier. Today, the goal is the equivalent of two large reactors by 2035. Berglöf says that even this later schedule may be difficult to meet.
– It is possible and realistic, but it is challenging and difficult.