"The debate over nuclear power comes at the wrong time and only serves to blur the issues."

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 regarding electricity supply in case renewable energies cannot be developed to the desired extent, where there would not be enough progress in seasonal electricity storage and where there would be no other climate-friendly solutions to ensure electricity production,” one can read on the Confederation's website.

Since the beginning of the year, reactions have been numerous and often opposed. Throughout March, we took stock of the different opinions. We conclude this series of interviews with Ronny Kaufmann, CEO of Swisspower, a strategic alliance alliance representing 19 municipal utilities and regional supply companies in Switzerland. Interview.

What is your position and opinion on the idea of reviving the nuclear sector in Switzerland?

We are clearly opposed to the Blackout initiative as well as to the Federal Council's indirect counter-proposal. While Switzerland is at a turning point in terms of energy policy: this debate comes at the wrong time and only muddies the current issues.

The production profile of nuclear energy is increasingly out of step with the needs of a decentralized and flexible electricity system.

Given the legislative process, followed by possible authorization and construction procedures, new power plants are neither a relevant short- nor medium-term solution to guarantee security of supply or to decarbonize the Swiss energy system. They are also burdened with unresolved problems: radioactive waste management, high costs, potential competition with the development of renewable energies and geopolitical dependencies.

Furthermore, the production profile of nuclear energy is increasingly out of step with the needs of a decentralized and flexible electricity system. In the current context, Switzerland will produce enough renewable electricity in summer, but will continue to suffer a deficit during winter.

Our country therefore needs targeted measures to transfer the electricity surplus from one season to another via seasonal accumulators, while increasing the capacity for renewable electricity production during the winter months.

The objective must therefore be to compensate for these predictable imbalances through a comprehensive approach. Sector coupling is a central lever: electricity, heat and gas can complement each other effectively, provided there are innovative and adapted regulatory frameworks. Only at that price can a renewable and secure energy supply be guaranteed at all times.

The approach proposed by the Federal Council therefore does little more than undermine confidence in renewable energies and the planning security essential for sector players – without bringing real added value to the country’s energy supply.

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

Again, new nuclear power plants with their constant electricity production throughout the year will not provide a solution to current needs, but will exacerbate summer overproduction and will not be profitable in a context of high volatility in electricity prices.

What Switzerland needs is not more base-load energy, but flexible electricity production aligned with the predictable consumption and production profiles of an increasingly decentralized energy economy.

Following this logic, the type of plant does not matter today.

The approach proposed by the Federal Council therefore does little more than undermine confidence in renewable energies and the planning security essential for sector players – without bringing real added value to the country’s energy supply.

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

Switzerland has excellent research institutes within the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH). It is also important to clarify that the ban on framework authorisations for nuclear power plants under art. 12a LENu is not a technological ban. Nuclear research remains authorised under art. 86 LENu, as does its promotion by the Confederation.

This allows the operation and construction of research reactors as well as the development of new technologies that complement the Energy Strategy 2050. A current example is the collaboration between PSI and Copenhagen Atomics for the construction of a molten salt reactor which, from 2026, should support the validation of new reactor technologies.

Switzerland financially supports its research institutes to fulfil international commitments such as to ITER and the IAEA. Swiss research expenditure in the nuclear field is stable.

If nuclear power is relaunched, should we not fear a reduction in investments in other renewable energy sources?

International examples, as well as statements from major Swiss energy groups, show that no new nuclear power plant project is feasible without massive state support. These projects run into the billions and depend on massive subsidies.

The current debate on federal finances illustrates how quickly support programs can be called into question – as evidenced by the removal of the P+D program. In addition, political circles have already called for new nuclear power plants in Switzerland to be funded by the grid surcharge fund.

If one does not want to increase this fund, This would lead to two possible consequences: either an increase in the grid surcharge, or a diversion of subsidies from renewable energies towards new nuclear power plants.

If one does not want to increase this fund, This would lead to two possible consequences: either an increase in the grid surcharge, or a diversion of subsidies from renewable energies towards new nuclear power plants. As recent parliamentary debates on grid costs have shown, the first option is not politically viable. The second would run counter to the democratic decisions made by the people.

Lifting the ban on building new nuclear power plants would therefore send a negative signal – both for the energy transition and for confidence in the stability of federal energy policy.

Finally, Switzerland has participated in and invested for many years in the European research program on nuclear fusion… An inaccessible myth or a future pathway in which we should continue to believe and invest?

Switzerland has every interest in participating in these projects, relying on its internationally renowned research institutes. Scientific research is based on a fundamental principle: sometimes you do not find what you are looking for. But our country has the resources, skills and talent necessary to make a valuable contribution – in this field as in many others.

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