Norway Takes First Steps Towards Nuclear Power

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

Summary

Norway has taken its first steps towards the potential use of nuclear power by allowing  Norsk Kjernekraft to start an impact assessment for a nuclear power plant in Aure and Heim region.

Norway Edges Towards Nuclear

Norway has greenlit an impact assessment for a nuclear power plant based on small modular reactor (SMR) technology in the Aure and Heim region of the country as it inches closer to accepting nuclear power as a future power source. 

The permit was granted by the Ministry of Energy and marks a pivotal moment for the country, which is assessing whether to include nuclear power in its energy mix. Its Nordic neighbors, Sweden and Finland, are long-time nuclear power users while Denmark's government announced in January that it is evaluating the possible use of SMRs in the future and the lifting of its 40-year ban on nuclear power.

Norsk Kjernekraft is looking to use a number of 300-megawatt (MW) SMRs, with the potential to supply a combined 1,500 MW of power.

"It is very pleasing that we have now received a formally binding impact assessment programme from the Ministry of Energy for nuclear power in Aure and Heim municipalities," said Norsk Kjernekraft Chief Executive Officer Jonny Hesthammer. "This is a big step forward for nuclear power in Norway. This confirms that Norway has the regulatory framework for nuclear power." Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports. 

The Government's Position

"By establishing this assessment program, we are setting minimum requirements for the scope and content of impact assessments for a possible nuclear power plant in Taftøy Business Park," said Minister of Energy Terje Aasland. "The fact that we have now established this assessment program does not mean that a position will be taken on nuclear power production as a power source in the Norwegian power system. Whether nuclear power will be relevant in Norway must be considered more closely in light of the Nuclear Power Committee's report. For the government, it is important to ensure a predictable and safe process."

Nuclear Fear

Political and national sentiment has traditionally been against nuclear power. Despite this, Norway has hosted four nuclear research reactors between the 1960s and 2018. In the 1970s, the country was debating whether to exploit its massive hydropower resources or go down the nuclear route. Hydropower won out and today accounts for 88% of the country's electricity. After the 1979 Three Mile Island accident in the U.S. and the 1985 Chernobyl accident, which resulted in a large amount of radioactive fallout in Norway, attitudes against nuclear power hardened. 

Power Crunch

That has only started to change as Norway faces an energy deficit by 2030. Demand is growing six times faster than new supplies, according to a DNV report in December. Data centres will use 15 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2040, it noted, which is equivalent to 7% of the country's power.

"Demand for electricity from data centers, energy-intensive industry, electrification of oil and gas operations, and transport is increasing much faster than new power production," said Sverre Alvik, DNV's Research Director for Energy Transition.

In addition, Norway is sitting on some of the world's largest known deposits of thorium, a safer nuclear fuel than uranium that is currently being used in the development of next-generation molten salt reactor technology. 

Polish Nuclear Project Advances

In related news, financing has been secured to help Poland realize its first nuclear power plant. A credit agreement between the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) has been agreed to support the construction and operation of the proposed nuclear plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in Pomerania. It will boost PEJ's liquidity and support "critical activities carried out prior to the construction phase, including feasibility studies, selected engineering services and environmental works." The Polish government is driving the program to build 6 to 9 gigawatts of nuclear power, starting with three reactors at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site. The plant will boast three Generation III+ AP1000 reactors from Westinghouse Electric Company with a combined output of 3,750 MW, with the first reactor estimated to be commissioned in 2033. Industrial Info subscribers can find the project details here. 

Key Takeaways

• Norway permits first impact assessment for a nuclear power plant based on small modular reactor (SMR) technology.
• Norway faces an energy crunch by 2030.
• Poland secures key financing to start work on its first nuclear power plant.

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