Three Swiss Utilities Form a Consortium For Building New Nuclear Capacity.

[NNadir]

Three Swiss utilities have agreed to jointly develop projects to replace old reactors and cut back on energy imports from France.

The move is the latest configuration of power companies that want to address an upcoming security of supply issue in the country.

In late 2007, Axpo, Centralschweizerische Kraftwerke (CFC) and BKW FMB Energie joined forces in a new company to replace the Beznau and Muhleberg nuclear power plants. One year later, after Axpo had taken control of CFC as a subsidiary, Axpo and BKW FMB filed 'framework permit applications' for the replacement. Separately Alpiq has made the same kind of application with reference to the Niederamt site.

Now Axpo and BKW have been joined by Alpiq to "join forces in further pursuing the planning and construction of two new nuclear power stations." This will replace old reactors and "compensate for long-term import agreements with France which are due to expire." The concept of building new reactors at all three sites was approved by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) in November.

Currently Muhleberg hosts a 306 MWe boiling water reactor, while Beznau plant hosts two 350 MWe pressurized water reactors. As a combined heat and power plant Beznau also provides 80 MW in heat to industry and homes over a 130 kilometre network that reaches 11 towns. Under current plans, power generation at those sites would end in around 2020. At the same time around 2000 MWe of imported nuclear energy from France would begin to be phased out and a 355 MWe hydro plant at Mill Mountain would close. The loss of so much low-carbon power generation at one time could be a serious environmental issue for Switzerland.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Three_become_one_for_new_nuclear_in_Switzerland_2312102.html">Three become one for new nuclear in Switzerland


The bold is mine. I was unaware that the Swiss used nuclear heating much as the Romanians, Russians and British have done. This is, of course, an excellent policy, and helps to address climate change. District heating is only the tip of the iceberg on what can be done with 2nd law heat from nuclear power plants.

Most people who know any science whatsoever know that the Swiss glaciers, and thus their hydroelectric capacity are at risk. Personally, I am gratified that the plans for the new reactors includes dismantling a dam, but then I rather hate dams.