Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in March of 2011, Germany decided to shut down all of its nuclear reactors as quickly as possible. Over three years later, Japan is still debating the restart of their idled fifty four nuclear power reactors. Other nations are reconsidering their commitment to nuclear power as well. Now Sweden is involved in a discussion about the future of their nuclear power plants.
Sweden's outgoing center-right governing coalition concluded in 2009 that new nuclear reactors should be built to replace aging reactors that are being retired. The Social Democrats party took thirty one percent of the vote in a recent election but did not have a clear parliamentary majority so they have to create a coalition government with other parties. Stefan Lofven, the leader of the Social Democrats, had previously said that Sweden would need nuclear power for the "foreseeable" future. The Swedish Green Party, part of the new governing coalition, would like to see more of Sweden's nuclear reactors closed in the next four years and replaced with renewable energy sources instead of new reactors. The Social Democrats and the Greens have agreed to establish an energy commission to explore how to convert Sweden completely to renewable sources for electricity.
Currently Sweden gets about forty percent of its electricity from nuclear power. Lofven just issued a statement that " "Sweden has very good potential to expand renewable energy through our good access to water, wind and forests. In time, Sweden will have an energy system with 100% renewable energy." He said that there should also be support for offshore wind power and solar energy. Both Social Democrats and Greens have issued statements that nuclear power should be replaced by renewable sources and energy efficiency. They have set a goal of generating at least 30 gigawatts from renewable source by 2020. Social Democrats and Greens agree that "Nuclear power should bear a greater share of its economic cost." They said that "Safety requirements should be strengthened and the nuclear waste fee increased."
Agneta Rising, the director of the World Nuclear Association, said that the statements of the two parties suggests a "a very bad situation for Sweden." "There is big support for using nuclear power in the country and the electricity system is working very well. From regulation to the operation of nuclear power plants, to a fully-costed system for taking care of the waste, there are no major obstacles in the way of the system, which has worked well for more than 40 years," Rising said. "Sweden has an electricity system that is almost optimal when you consider that nearly 50% comes from nuclear power and nearly 50% from hydro power. It is a clean, competitive and stable electricity system. To get out of that situation, which every other country would dream of being in, is bad news for Sweden and a bad example for the rest of the world." Rising went on to say that closing the Swedish nuclear reactors would be expensive and that expense could take money away from work to convert to renewables.
