Switzerland must closely follow developments in new reactors.

On 20 December 2024, in response to the popular initiative “Electricity for everyone at all times (Stop the blackout)”, the Federal Council unveiled its own counter-proposal. In consultation until 3 April, the text proposes to amend the Nuclear Energy Act in order to allow new power plants to be approved again in Switzerland.

“The objective is to promote openness to different technologies in Switzerland’s energy policy, including nuclear energy, and thus to create an insurance policy in terms of electricity supply in case renewables cannot be developed to the desired extent, there is not enough progress in seasonal electricity storage and there are no other climate-friendly solutions to guarantee electricity production,” reads the Confederation’s website.

Since the beginning of the year, reactions have been numerous and often opposed. Since the beginning of March, we have been taking stock of the different opinions and trying to determine what industry actors think. We continue the series of interviews with Alexander Puhrer, head of nuclear production at Alpiq. Interview

What is your stance and opinion on the idea of relaunching the nuclear sector in Switzerland?

In the field of nuclear energy, the question of building a new nuclear power plant is not currently on the table for us. We are clearly focusing on the long-term operation of the existing Gösgen and Leibstadt plants, in which we hold stakes. This mission requires all of our attention.

In early October 2024, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) nevertheless praised the performance of Swiss nuclear plants. These not only meet the requirements of the national supervisory authority (ENSI), but also achieve the safety and availability goals set by WANO for 2030. 

We are convinced that nuclear energy will continue to play a key role in supply security for many years. Since all Swiss plants have an operating authorization without time limit, we can contribute sustainably to this supply by continuing to operate the existing facilities, as long as it remains safe and economically viable.  

Should new plants be built in the long term to guarantee Switzerland’s energy security? It is impossible to answer that question today. It depends on many factors. We cannot yet know when new technologies will be sufficiently mature. That is why it is essential to remain open to technological advances.

Should new plants be built in the long term to guarantee Switzerland’s energy security? It is impossible to answer that question today.

If this door were reopened in Switzerland, what type of nuclear energy should be favored: new large reactors or small modular reactors such as SMRs or AMRs?

Currently, many concepts and technologies for power plants are the subject of research and work. In principle, the advantages remain the same as before: the fission of atomic nuclei makes it possible to produce a considerable amount of energy in a confined space.

It is difficult to say today which type of reactor would best fit into Switzerland’s future energy system. Current large installations still provide very valuable baseload power and thus contribute to grid stability. Future large reactors could do the same and would also have somewhat more possibilities for more flexible operation. 

In a future where electricity supply will be very decentralized and volatile due to new renewables, it would probably be more sensible to integrate smaller reactors, for example SMRs, into the energy system, because their modular design and lower fixed costs would allow for greater flexibility. 

For many years, research and work have been carried out on Generation IV reactor concepts. However, none has reached sufficient maturity for commercial electricity production. Recently, the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) has overtaken that of Generation IV. We therefore believe it is more likely that light-water SMRs will be built first, before attention turns back to Generation IV reactors, mainly for specific applications.

In any case, Switzerland must closely follow international progress on new reactors and their uses, in order to be able to make informed decisions if there is a need for deployment on its territory. At the international level, it is observed that the strong demand from data centers for “baseload” power is generating keen interest in SMRs. These reactors are seen as a promising solution to directly supply new data centers with electricity without relying on the grid. Several companies around the world have indeed launched SMR development programs.

The lifting of the ban on building new plants would certainly be a strong signal to the labor market as well as to research and education in the nuclear field.

Does Switzerland have the technical capacity and a sufficient number of experts to have new ambitions in nuclear power within reasonable timeframes?

Thanks to its nuclear power production and plants, Switzerland has very high technical know-how and expertise in the nuclear field. New projects would of course require additional human resources, but building on this existing base and on a global nuclear industry that offers a talent pool, one can assume that the capacities needed for new projects could be provided.

The lifting of the ban on building new plants would certainly be a strong signal to the labor market as well as to research and education in the nuclear field. Maintaining skills is also a key element to ensure the long-term operation of existing plants. Technological openness combined with a stable regulatory framework would offer young people attractive career prospects, an essential factor to encourage them today to train in the field of nuclear energy.

In addition, the Confederation has internationally renowned nuclear competence centers, notably PSI and the two Federal Institutes of Technology. To guarantee the future of nuclear energy in Switzerland, it is essential to invest in research, education and the preservation of skills.

If nuclear power is relaunched, shouldn't we fear a reduction in investments in other renewable energy sources?

In June 2024, the Swiss people gave a clear mandate in favor of renewables by approving the Electricity Act. That is why we want to implement our projects in hydropower (notably the Gornerli multi-purpose reservoir project), Alpine photovoltaics and wind energy. These initiatives will contribute significantly to strengthening supply security, with a particular focus on increasing winter production, as well as to improving climate protection. To achieve this, all actors – economy, society and politics – must pull together and move in the same direction.

The licensing, planning and construction of a new nuclear power plant would take at least 15 to 20 years. Therefore, the debate about these new infrastructures does not constitute a solution to current energy challenges. We must now invest in the development of renewables, in storage and in grid flexibility. These are the priorities on which we must focus our efforts.

Finally, Switzerland has participated in and invested for many years in the European research programme on nuclear fusion… An unreachable myth or a future path worth continuing to believe in and invest in?

Research opens up many prospects, including a leap forward in the field of nuclear fusion. That is why we are also open to this technology. Although fusion reactions have already been produced in experiments, all fusion reactor concepts face major challenges, particularly in terms of technical feasibility.

To date, it is impossible to predict with certainty when new technologies will become truly operational. This also applies to nuclear fusion.

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