COUNTRY PAVILLIONS | WNE2025 Sweden: Exploring all stages of the nuclear life cycle
With six operable reactors, Sweden supplies around 30% of its electrical needs from nuclear power but is now also exploring new nuclear developments across the nuclear life cycle, including SMRs
as the intermediate storage of spent fuel (CLAB) and the repository for short- lived waste (SFR) including the transport system. Construction work to build a final repository for spent fuel has been initiated and an encapsulation plant for the fuel will follow when all permits are granted. Meanwhile, expansion of the repository for short-lived waste is currently ongoing. In the area of decommissioning,
the research reactor Studsvik R2 has now been fully decommissioned and released from nuclear obligations. There are a total of six commercial reactors also under decommissioning. Four of these reactors are managed by Uniper and two by Ringhals/Vattenfall. These decommissioning projects will continue for some years until they are completed. Other facilities where construction plans
Above: Sweden is exploring options to extend the life of its nuclear plants such as Ringhals near Gothenburg to beyond 60 years of operation. Source: Vattenfall
The Swedish nuclear landscape contains all stages of the nuclear life cycle as well as service- and component providers. Nuclear has a history in Sweden dating back to the 1940s when the first steps were taken towards introduction of nuclear. A number of well-known Swedish companies within the nuclear field provide material, components, nuclear fuel, services and support worldwide. More recent R&D efforts have also led to development and establishment of actors, for example, in the field of next generation SMRs. Sweden currently has six operable reactors, four BWRs and
two PWRs. These reactors are in operation at three locations, Oskarshamn on the east coast 300 km south of capital Stockholm; Forsmark on the same coastline 140 km north of Stockholm and Ringhals on the west coast near Gothenburg. The country’s total installed nuclear capacity is currently about 6.8 GW. Some 30% of the total electricity generated in Sweden comes from nuclear generation. All reactors in operation were commissioned in the 1980s and have already exceeded 40 years of operation. They are expected to operate for at least 60 years. To continue beyond 60 years of operation, the plant owners are now investigating opportunities for additional life extensions of up to 80 years. In 2023 the government presented their road map towards new nuclear and different actors are now also looking into the opportunities with different options and locations for new nuclear in Sweden. During 2025 Fortum have presented their pre-study investigation of new nuclear in Sweden and Finland and Vattenfall has announced their plans for 1500 MW capacity in SMR technology close to current Ringhals reactors on the west coast. The nuclear operators have, via their co-owned company SKB,
for several decades worked on the development of repositories for their radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel. SKB is also responsible for the waste facilities currently in operation such
are becoming a reality are, for example, an ongoing capacity expansion at the Cyclife- EDF facility for waste treatment (melting,
incineration), expansion of a Westinghouse fuel factory and a demonstration plant for a next generation SMR, the lead-cooled SEALER-E prototype reactor being developed by Blykalla, who also, in parallel, develop the commercial variant SEALER-One. The non-nuclear electrical reactor is being developed at a site
near Oskarshamn and aims to validate critical components and safety systems of the SMR design. To proceed with both continued operations at existing plants as
well as the variety of other nuclear projects planned or ongoing will require trained and skilled staff within many different fields. To support this requirement, across Sweden universities and other educational actors are also looking into how the demand for skills could be met for both the short and long term.
Above: The lead-cooled SEALER-E prototype reactor is being developed by Blykalla at a site near Oskarshamn
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