Nuclear power in Switzerland
Overview of nuclear power in Switzerland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nuclear power in Switzerland is generated by three nuclear power plants, with a total of four operational reactors (see list below). Since 1985, nuclear power has been contributing approximately 40% of Switzerland's electrical energy. In 2022, it produced 23 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, and accounted for 37% of the nation's gross electricity generation of 62 TWh, while 55% was produced by hydroelectric plants and 8% came from conventional thermal power stations and non-hydro renewable energy sources.[1]
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Switzerland hosts several research reactors, including the CROCUS reactor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, which has been the country's only remaining research reactor since 2013.
Nuclear waste from power plants was processed mostly overseas until 2006.[2] Storage is done on surface sites as plans are underway to move nuclear waste underground.[2]
In 2011, the federal authorities decided to gradually phase out nuclear power in Switzerland as a consequence of the Fukushima accident in Japan.[3] In late 2013 the operator BKW decided to cease all electrical generation in 2019 in the Mühleberg plant. The structural design of the Mühleberg nuclear power plant closely resembles that of unit 1 of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, albeit with some differences.[4]
As of 8 December 2014, the National Council has voted to limit the operational life-time of the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant to 60 years, forcing its two reactors to be decommissioned by 2029 and 2031, respectively. A popular initiative calling for nuclear power phase-out by 2029 was rejected by voters in 2016;[5] however, on 1 January 2018 an amendment (article 12a) to the Swiss Nuclear Energy Act came into effect, prohibiting the issuing of new general licences for nuclear power plants.[6] Switzerland plans to phase out its nuclear capacity by 2044 as part of its Energy Strategy 2050.[7]
In 2021, the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) confirmed that Swiss nuclear plants meet updated earthquake safety standards, ensuring resilience to rare seismic events. Assessments initiated in 2011, later updated in 2015, affirm their safety measures.[8]
According to a February 2023 poll, approximately 49% of the Swiss population supported the ongoing use of nuclear energy, while 38% opposed it.[9]