Nuclear power in Finland: Difference between revisions
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== References == |
== References == |
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*[http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf76. |
*[http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf76.html World Nuclear Association: Nuclear Power in Finland] |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 22:35, 10 January 2008
Blue represents people in favor of nuclear power
Gray represents undecided
Yellow represents opposed to nuclear power
As of 2006, Finland's nuclear power program has four nuclear reactors. The first of these came into operation in 1977. They now provide 27% of Finland's electricity.
A cabinet decision in 2002 to allow the construction of a fifth nuclear power plant was accepted in parliament. Economic, energy security and environmental grounds were given as reasons for the decision. While hydroelectricity is curtailed in dry years, nuclear energy supplies invariant amounts of energy and studies showed that nuclear energy was the cheapest option for Finland. The Green League left the government in protest. The vote was seen as very significant for nuclear energy policy in that it was the first decision to build a new nuclear power plant in Western Europe for more than a decade.
Since 2005 there has been growing vocal support, from industry and government alike, for building a 6th nuclear power reactor in order to lower electricity costs, meet Finland's obligations under the Kyoto protocol and to reduce dependency on potentially unreliable imported electricity (from Norway, Sweden and Russia).[1] The discussions have advanced so far that some people consider that the issue more when it will be finished rather than if it will be built. [2]
Current reactors
Loviisa plant
Located in Loviisa. Two VVER-440 pressurized water reactors built by Soviet Atomenergoeksport but fitted with Western instrumentation and control systems. Owned by Fortum. Started electricity production in 1977 and 1980 and now produce 488 MWe each. On 26 July 2007 new licenses were granted to Fortum to operate the units until 2027 and 2030 conditional on safety reviews before 2015 and 2023.[3]
Olkiluoto plant
Located in Eurajoki, near Rauma. Two boiling water reactors (both currently produce 860 MWe). Built by Swedish Asea-Atom (nowadays Westinghouse Electric Company of the Toshiba corporation). Owned by Teollisuuden voima. Started electricity production in 1978 and 1980.
The third Olkiluoto reactor will be the new European Pressurized Reactor. Scheduled to go on line in 2011, it will have a power output of 1600 MWe.
Otaniemi research reactor
There is a small research reactor located in Otaniemi, Espoo; a TRIGA Mark II type sunk in open heavy water tank. Built in 1962. Owned by Technical Research Centre of Finland. It has a power output of 250 kW (peak power 1000 kW) and is mainly used in brain tumor treatment and research. This small reactor is usually ignored when counting the number of reactors in Finland as most people refer to the industrial scale reactors.
New reactors
Both Fortum and Teollisuuden Voima have stated that they are interested in building a sixth nuclear reactor.[4] The Finnish branch of German utility E.ON has said that it has agreed to buy land in southern Finland on which it hopes to build Finland's seventh nuclear reactor.[5] However, the town of Loviisa has declined their initial offer, as it lay too close to residential areas and the valuable Svartholm fortress.[6]
References
See also
- Related
External links
- Uranium Information Center: Nuclear energy in Finland
- Status of nuclear power in Finland at the French NEA site (in English).