The proposal was submitted by Dalane Kjernekraft AS – jointly owned by Dalane Energi, Norsk Kjernekraft and Lund Municipality. The notification is the first formal step towards establishing a nuclear power plant based on SMRs in the municipality of Lund. After the ministry has determined the assessment programme, a thorough impact assessment can begin.
The study will be based on a location in Kjerrsdalen at Eikeland farm. Several locations in Lund will also be considered, and the final location will only be decided after the impact assessment has been completed.
The notification describes the topics that will be further investigated, including environmental and natural diversity, safety, land use, waste and decommissioning management and societal impacts. Once the study programme has been established by the Ministry of Energy, Dalane Kjernekraft will conduct the impact assessment in dialogue with state authorities, regional agencies and the local population. If the study shows that a nuclear power plant can be realised within acceptable limits, the company will then prepare a licence application.
In July last year, Norwegian nuclear project developer Norsk Kjernekraft – which aims to build, own and operate SMR power plants in Norway in collaboration with power-intensive industry – signed a cooperation agreement with Lund to consider the construction of such a plant in the area. Since then, thorough preliminary studies have been carried out, which show that the area has several suitable locations where a plant could be built.
“Submitting the notification is an important crossroads,” said Dalane Kjernekraft CEO Steffen Oliver Sæle. “Lund Municipality has been very forward-looking and shows the way for other municipalities that want to combine climate goals, value creation and consideration for nature. We will carry out a thorough, open and fact-based process in close dialogue with the local population. Nuclear power will not replace hydropower in Norway, but will provide stable, emission-free electricity that complements the renewable energy mix.”
Project companies established
Norsk Kjernekraft has formally launched a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Øygarden Kjernekraft AS, with the purpose of investigating, building and operating SMRs in Øygarden municipality, just outside Bergen. The new company will further investigate the construction and operation of a plant consisting of several SMRs in Øygarden at the Kollsnes industrial area.
On 8 August last year, Norsk Kjernekraft submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Energy for an assessment of the construction of a power plant based on up to five SMRs of 300 MWe each in Øygarden. The proposed location is an area of up to 250 acres (101 hectares) at Buneset, which is owned by landowner and former mayor of Øygarden, Rolv Svein Rougnø.
“The establishment of Øygarden Kjernekraft AS marks a new and concrete phase in our commitment to SMR technology in Norway,” said Norsk Kjernekraft CEO Jonny Hesthammer. “Øygarden is an area with large energy needs and great development potential, not least through industrial projects at Kollsnes. With this subsidiary, we will have a clear structure for conducting project development, application work and later construction and operation.”
Meanwhile, Narvik Municipality, through its business development company Futurum, has established Narvik Kjernekraft AS, together with Norsk Kjernekraft. The company will investigate, and possibly plan, build and operate nuclear power plants based on SMRs in Narvik.
Narvik Kjernekraft will now begin planning a formal assessment phase: preparing a proposal for an assessment programme.
“We are very proud of the partnership with Narvik Municipality and Futurum AS,” Hesthammer said. “Narvik Kjernekraft AS marks the start of a new phase where nuclear power can contribute to local value creation and security of supply.”
“Futurum is pleased to be part of this initiative,” said Futurum CEO Lars Sigurd Eide. “Narvik has a large industrial activity and a need for stable, emission-free energy – Narvik Kjernekraft AS can lay the foundation for a future-oriented development.”
