Switzerland plans keeping nuclear plants in use longer than previously expected over fears of electricity shortages, mirroring a broader trend of European countries revisiting the potential of atomic energy.
The country decided to exit nuclear power in 2017, but didn’t set a date to shut down its four plants, which are supposed to run as long as deemed safe. Operators Axpo Holding AG and Alpiq Holding AG have already boosted the planned lifespan for their plants to 60 years from a previous target of 50, spokespeople for the companies told Bloomberg. That would see them operating until around 2040.
On top of that, Alpiq is studying the impacts of a further extension to as many as 80 years on safety, investments and profitability, its spokesman said. That would mirror moves in the US, where more than 90% of existing nuclear reactors will likely seek approval to operate at least that long.
Swiss nuclear power plants are allowed run for as long as they can be operated safely, a spokesperson for Switzerland’s Federal Office of Energy said, highlighting that the government never set an exit date and all lifespan calculations stem from reactor operators. ...