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Switzerland to phase out nuclear power
- 13 years ago (2011-05-26)
- David Flin
On May 25, the Swiss Government decided that it would phase out nuclear power, and seek alternative energy sources. This is in response to security concerns following Japan’s nuclear troubles at Fukushima.
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Swiss Energy Minister Doris Leuthard said: “The government has voted for a phase-out because we want to ensure a secure and autonomous supply of energy. Fukushima showed that the risk of nuclear power is too high, which in turn has also increased the costs of this form of energy.”
Switzerland generates about 40 percent of its electricity from its five nuclear reactors. The rest comes mostly from hydropower. Leuthard said that the government has not yet fixed a date for final phase-out of the nuclear reactors, but it is generally expected that they would be phased out as they reach the end of their design life. This would mean that the last reactor would cease operation in 2040. Leuthard said that the government might hold a referendum on the issue.
This announcement to discontinue the country’s nuclear power plants has surprised some Swiss utilities. Axpo Holding and BKW FMB had planned to build two new plants, and had pledged to invest $10 billion into them. The companies had said that new plants are needed if Switzerland wants to avoid being dependent on energy imports. They also warned that Swiss industry may suffer from high energy costs.
Heinz Karrer, Axpo CEO, said: “The government decision will become a problem as far as supply security is concerned.” He called for an in-depth analysis of the decision, and a referendum of the Swiss people.
The industry group Swissmem said that the government decision “is questionable as there is no viable alternative to nuclear energy.” It said that the decision could negatively affect the economy and endanger jobs.
Leuthard said the government will invest in new hydropower plants and will encourage the development of renewable energy sources. She declined to provide an investment figure. She also said that there should increased emphasis on energy saving measures, and that the country should consider using fossil fuels to meet electricity demand.