New SMR Power Plant Proposed for Sweden

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

Summary

Sweden's government has received its third application to build a nuclear power plant based on small modular reactor (SMR) technology just months after approving new draft laws to make it easier to build new nuclear power plants.

Application Submitted

Swedish nuclear technical services company Studsvik has submitted Sweden's third application to construct a small modular reactor (SMR) power plant at its existing site in Nykoping in Sodermanland County.

The company's president and chief executive officer, Karl Thedéen, presented the application to Johan Britz, Minister for Employment and acting Minister for Climate and the Environment. It wants to build two to four light water-cooled and light water-moderated nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of between 600 megawatts (MW) and 1,400 MW. Subject to permits, the company is aiming for commercial operation of the first reactors in the 2030s. There has been a surge in proposed SMR projects in Europe in the last couple of years. According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are 44 SMR projects in the European pipeline worth more than US$135 billion in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports.

SMR Rush

The initial Nykoping project will use a pair of 300-MW GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors, coupled with a 600-MW steam turbine. Studsvik's entry into the SMR space was facilitated by it acquiring new SMR project developer Kärnfull Next last month. Kärnfull Next submitted Sweden's first SMR application in April, with the goal of deploying between four and six small light water reactors based on the BWRX-300 in the Valdemarsvik Municipality. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the Valdemarsvik report. For additional information, see April 08, 2026, article - Plans for Swedish SMR Advances Under New Act. 

Another Swedish developer, Blykalla, has also confirmed that it will seek planning permission later this year for an SMR park in Norrsundet, Gävle, Sweden. It comes after the company said that initial site assessments have been positive for its proposed project consisting of six of its lead-cooled Swedish Advanced Lead Reactors (SEALERs), with a total capacity of approximately 300 MW.  

Government Supports New Nuclear

The SMR space in Sweden has benefitted from changes to existing laws that prevented new nuclear power development. Sweden gets slightly less than a third of its power from nuclear energy, but it also has six offline reactors with existing laws preventing their restart. The pro-nuclear government wants to add 10 reactors over the next 20 years. It has passed a number of draft laws to encourage more investment. The Act on Government Approval of Nuclear Facilities covers proposals to encourage existing and new nuclear power developers to propose projects, changes to environmental rules to let nuclear plants be placed in more coastal locations, and also changes to allow the restart of shutdown reactors. 

Key Takeaways

• Swedish nuclear technical services company Studsvik has submitted Sweden's third application to construct a small modular reactor (SMR) power plant.
• It wants to build two to four light water-cooled and light water-moderated nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of between 600 megawatts (MW) and 1,400 MW.
• Industrial Info Resources is tracking 44 European SMR projects worth more than US$135 billion in investment. 

About Industrial Info Resources
ndustrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).