Clean Energy Park a New Visions of Energy World from Sweden…

Source: Kärnkraftsopinion i Sverige

Translations: Germán & Co,  www.germantoroghio.com

Karlstad/Sweden

"In its 2022 report on the role of nuclear power in combating climate change, "Nuclear Power and Secure Energy Transitions", the International Energy Agency (IEA) writes that "Nuclear power can help make the energy sector's journey away from undiminished fossil fuels faster and more secure"." (IEA)

With Clean Energy Park, Uniper introduce a new concept for the energy system of the future. The vision is to bring together small-scale and large-scale energy production in one place, where fossil-free power sources interact with each other to produce both electricity and hydrogen in an optimal way. So far, this is just a vision. But if all the conditions are in place, the Barsebäck plant could be a place where the concept is realised in the future.

At the moment, radiological demolition of the two reactors at the Barsebäck power plant is underway. The project is being carried out in parallel with the dismantling of the two oldest reactors at OKG outside Oskarshamn. The joint project is estimated to cost around SEK 10 billion, financed by the nuclear power companies themselves through annual allocations to the Nuclear Waste Fund.

- The project is on schedule for both budget and time. Radiological demolition is now underway and should be completed by 2028. By carrying out decommissioning and demolition in a safe and responsible way, we are closing the life cycle of nuclear power. And leave room for a new generation of electricity production, says Åsa Carlson, CEO of Barsebäck Kraft AB.

New fossil-free and predictable power generation is needed in southern Sweden - which has hardly any power generation of its own, and where electricity prices are likely to be unusually high this winter. Svenska Kraftnät has warned of an increased risk of rotating disconnection this winter - that is, planned and scheduled power cuts if electricity production and imports are not sufficient at any one time.

New power generation needed in southern Sweden

Relying on imports from our neighbours does not guarantee security of supply over time. The lack of predictable electricity production is a consequence of permanent closure of power plants in southern Sweden, Germany and Denmark over a 20-year period - coal-fired power plants, thermal power plants and some 20 reactors in Germany and Sweden. This means that in cold and windless weather, a number of European countries could be dependent on imports at the same time.

- We have often been asked what to do with the land where the Barsebäck plant is located. Our message is that we are focusing on decommissioning. When the Swedish Energy Agency classified the land as a national interest for new electricity production, we also began work on how we can contribute to the electricity supply in southern Sweden, albeit in the long term," says Åsa Carlson.

The Barsebäcks site still has electricity distribution infrastructure with both switchyards and access to the main grid. But even though much has already been prepared, it may still be some time before new energy production comes on stream.

- Well, so far it's a vision where we are now exploring the conditions to realise our ideas. One part of this is to see a long-term and broad common view in energy policy on the strategy and objectives for the future electricity system," says Åsa Carlson and continues.

- We have initiated discussions with Kävlinge municipality, where my hope is that we can develop and work together on a common vision. We don't just see the energy park as housing energy production, but we also want the site to become a research hub in the Öresund region with a focus on new energy technologies. We have already started to make contacts with academia and industry.

Several projects around Sweden

Uniper has initiated a number of business development projects around Sweden, where the aim of the projects is to contribute to the transition to fossil-free energy and continued security of energy supply and competitiveness. Many of the projects involve testing and developing technologies such as SMR and energy carriers such as hydrogen, mainly for industry and transport, together with other partners.

The idea is also to develop new concepts for the electricity system of the future. The Clean Energy Park is just such a concept, with integrated energy production in which the different power sources interact rather than compete with each other.

- We see a future with clusters of local energy production close to electricity consumers, in cities and industrial towns, where small-scale nuclear power of the SMR type complements other fossil-free electricity production to provide the local community with both electricity and hydrogen," explains Åsa Carlson.

The construction of SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) requires changes in legislation to allow new construction outside existing nuclear facilities (not including BKAB) and the establishment of regulatory and licensing processes by SSM. In addition, that the law allows for an increased number of reactors.

If conditions are right, a new SMR Gen3 could be operational in the early 2030s, while a new SMR Gen4 is unlikely to be commercially mature until the 2040s. However, Uniper does not exclude large-scale nuclear power as a possible part of the solution, this will have to be analysed in further work.

- It is positive that the government's agreement seems to be in line with our concept. For example, a review of the legislation that currently limits the location and number

of reactors is needed. Our concept must be able to extend beyond one political term," says Åsa Carlson.

Positive opinion in Sweden and Denmark

Another important parameter for new nuclear power is public opinion. There is currently a preponderance in favour of nuclear power in both Sweden and Denmark. According to a Novus survey earlier this year, 48% of respondents want to build new reactors in Sweden, while 12% want to phase them out through political decisions.

In Denmark, too, opinion has swung dramatically. In an August poll this year by analyst firm Megafon, 46% of respondents would vote yes on the question of building nuclear power in Denmark while 39% would vote no.

In a similar poll in Denmark in 2016, 17 percent voted for nuclear power in Denmark while a whopping 66 percent voted no.