Norsk Kjernekraft has entered into a collaborative agreement with the municipality of Lund in the southern Norwegian county of Rogaland, with the aim of establishing a nuclear power plant in the town. L
und anticipates a substantial surge in power demand due to the ongoing industrialization of the area.
Cooperation Agreement and Initial Steps
The partnership agreement paves the way for preliminary actions toward realizing nuclear power generation in the municipality. These steps involve identifying suitable locations for the plant and initiating an impact assessment to evaluate potential environmental and societal effects.
Norsk Kjernekraft highlights the progress of various sustainable industrialization plans in the region, emphasizing the need for substantial and consistent emission-free power. Lund’s mayor, Gro Helleland, has been a vocal advocate for ensuring this energy is acquired with minimal impact on the environment.
Nuclear Power as an Optimal Solution
Helleland elaborates, “As the energy demands of our region’s industrial plans became evident, we sought comprehensive information on available alternatives. It gradually became clear that modern nuclear power, specifically small modular reactors (SMRs), not only boasts the lowest lifetime greenhouse gas emissions but also minimizes land use compared to other options.”
The mayor further connects the project to regional objectives, stating, “Through Regionråd Dalane, we’re collaborating with Rogaland county on a regional growth agreement, anchored in the Regional Plan for green industry. I perceive a clear link between increased value creation, green industry jobs contributing to a nature-neutral, low-emission society, and the establishment of nuclear power.”
Community Engagement and Environmental Considerations
Norsk Kjernekraft CEO Jonny Hesthammer stresses the importance of local involvement, saying, “Early community engagement is vital to ensure sufficient democratic support for any projects moving forward.”
He adds, “Norway faces significant challenges in achieving climate goals while safeguarding natural diversity when developing new emission-free power. We believe a safe, space-efficient energy source like nuclear power can contribute to a balanced solution.”
Norsk Kjernekraft envisions the necessity of constructing multiple small nuclear power plants across the country. The company considers Lund’s initiative for collaboration a significant step, as it’s the first municipality in Rogaland to do so.
Ongoing Nuclear Power Exploration
This collaboration follows Norsk Kjernekraft’s recent proposal to Norway’s Ministry of Energy for assessing a multi-SMR power plant in Finnmark county.
Similar proposals have been made for other locations, including Svartnes in Finnmark, Aure and Heim in south-western Norway, and Øygarden municipality.
Furthermore, a new company, Halden Kjernekraft AS, has been formed by Norsk Kjernekraft, Østfold Energi, and the municipality of Halden to investigate the construction of an SMR-based nuclear power plant in Halden, a site that previously housed a research reactor.