ETH nuclear researcher claims: Nuclear power plants make energy transition cheaper

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In Switzerland, existing nuclear power plants could easily run safely for 60 years or more. So says Andreas Pautz, head of the Nuclear Energy and Safety Research Department at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), in an interview with the “NZZ”.

This would be an interesting option, especially financially, explains Pautz: “Every ten years that the existing nuclear power plants continue to operate, the federal energy strategy becomes no less than ten percent cheaper.”

Fear of skill shortages

One obstacle could be the lack of skilled workers. Although nuclear technology courses are popular, the young people trained in Switzerland are not enough to fully staff the nuclear power plants, says Pautz. So far, Switzerland has been able to benefit from German specialists. “But this source is gradually drying up,” he says to the “NZZ”. Young professionals would find it more exciting to work in countries where new equipment is being developed.

This is not possible in Switzerland. The construction of new nuclear power plants is prohibited. However, existing nuclear power plants may continue to operate as long as they are considered safe. A citizens’ initiative wants to lift the ban on new construction of nuclear power plants. In any case, they have almost reached their collecting goal, the “Tages-Anzeiger” recently wrote.

Nuclear power plant renaissance questionable

But even if the legal basis were there again, there doesn’t seem to be much interest in investing in the industry. Christoph Brand, CEO of Axpo, told “CH Media” that no new nuclear power plants will be connected to the grid for the next 20 years. There are currently no investors and the procedures are too slow. “Nuclear energy alone will not solve Switzerland’s energy problem in 2050,” says Brand.

For nuclear researcher Pautz, subsidies and streamlined procedures can make nuclear power stations more attractive. He has no concerns about safety. “If a reactor type is approved in Finland and France, it can be assumed that the reactor can in principle also be approved in Switzerland,” he told the “NZZ”.

Nuclear power plants are not exactly popular with the general public. A new construction of nuclear power plants does not find a majority. This is the conclusion of a study by GFS Bern commissioned by the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies in May. 65 percent of the Swiss do not want a new nuclear power plant, even if that would stop many other power plants, such as wind turbines, solar systems in the mountains or sheet piles. (brother)

Source:Blick