Sweden funds nine municipalities for nuclear power feasibility studies by 2027
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has distributed SEK19.8 million (USD2.2 million) to nine municipalities that have applied to carry out feasibility studies for new nuclear power.
In February, the government proposed that SEK20 million would be allocated annually until 2030 by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to municipalities that want to conduct feasibility studies for new nuclear power. It had previously decided on a total of SEK15 million to municipalities during the years 2024 and 2025. The purpose of the grant, it said, is to prepare for, and shorten, the review periods for the permit processes for the establishment of new nuclear power. Municipalities had until 20 March to apply for the grants to be allocated this year.
"Grants may be given to such feasibility studies that contribute to developing working methods for a coordinated process that enables effective planning and permitting processes for the establishment of nuclear facilities," the agency said.
Thirteen municipalities conducted studies for the implementation of pilot projects for planning new nuclear power during 2024-2025, including preliminary studies on possible location, the municipality's role in the planning process, skills requirements and establishing of new nuclear power.
The agency has now allocated grants - ranging between SEK550,000 and SEK4.35 million - to nine municipalities to conduct feasibility studies. These include: Gävle, Kävlinge, Nyköping, Oskarshamn, Svalöv, Söderhamn, Valdemarsvik, Varberg and Östhammar.
Of these, seven municipalities have received grants in previous application rounds in 2024-2025. Two municipalities - Nyköping and Söderhamn - applied for the first time.
The municipalities must report results and experiences from the work to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency by 15 December. The work on the feasibility studies must be completed by 31 March 2027.
"A lot of interesting results and experiences emerged through the feasibility studies that the municipalities carried out in previous grant rounds," said Lina Vogel, acting head of unit in the department for planning, assessment and supervision. "Results that can now, through this year's grant distribution, be taken further and deepened or supplemented. We will now follow the municipalities' continued work and our task is to ensure that there are good opportunities for exchange between the municipalities and also with us, the authorities in the area."
In October 2022, Sweden's incoming centre-right coalition government adopted a positive stance towards nuclear energy. In November 2023, it unveiled a roadmap which envisages the construction of new nuclear generating capacity equivalent to at least two large-scale reactors by 2035, with the equivalent capacity of up to 10 new large-scale reactors (which may include small modular reactors) coming online by 2045. A new act on state aid entered into force on 1 August 2025, since when interested companies have been able to apply for the aid.
The Swedish government received the first such application in December to support proposals for either five GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors or three Rolls-Royce SMRs to provide about 1,500 MW capacity at Ringhals on the Väster Peninsula. The application came from Videberg Kraft AB, a project company owned by Vattenfall AB and backed by a series of industrial firms via the Industrikraft i Sverige AB consortium. Last week, the government said it plans to take a majority stake in Videberg Kraft AB.
