{"id":35896,"date":"2019-12-24T05:33:03","date_gmt":"2019-12-23T19:03:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=35896"},"modified":"2019-12-25T05:04:36","modified_gmt":"2019-12-24T18:34:36","slug":"nuclear-plant-switzerland-mb1341","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/nuclear-plant-switzerland-mb1341\/","title":{"rendered":"Plug Pulled On Nuclear Power Plant In Switzerland"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"M\u00fchleberg<\/p>\n

Switzerland’s M\u00fchleberg Nuclear Power Plant was permanently deactivated a few days ago. It’s the first nuclear reactor in the country to be decommissioned – and there won’t be any more built.<\/p>\n

On December 20 at 12:30 pm local time, the 373MW M\u00fchleberg Nuclear Power Plant (KKM) cranked out its final kilowatt-hour of electricity. Over its 47 years of operation, the plant generated around 100,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity.<\/p>\n

Decommissioning A Costly, Lengthy Exercise<\/h2>\n

Decommissioning\/dismantling the facility starts in early January next year and will take a very long time – 15 years. Plant owner BKW FMB Energie AG says the process will have a strong focus on the safety of the general public, the environment and its employees.<\/p>\n

“BKW is organisationally and financially well prepared for its largest project since the construction of KKM about 50 years ago,” says<\/a> part of a statement concerning the shutdown.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dismantling the plant and disposal of radioactive waste will also be costly – estimated at 3 billion Swiss francs according to a 2016 study, which is around AUD $4.42 billion at current exchange rates. In addition to the nuclear fuel waste stored on-site that will have to be dealt with, there will be thousands of tonnes of demolition material considered too contaminated for cleaning and re-use.<\/p>\n

Switzerland Phasing Out Nuclear Power<\/h2>\n

Back in 2017, Switzerland’s voters endorsed Energy Strategy 2050<\/a>, a government plan that will see nuclear power in the country phased out while renewable capacity including wind and solar energy is boosted.<\/p>\n

Generation from non-hydro renewables such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal\u00a0sources is to increase from last year’s 3,877 GWh<\/a>\u00a0 to a target of 11,400 GWh by 2035.\u00a0 Switzerland also has 638 hydroelectric power plants, which currently account for around 60% of total domestic electricity production.<\/p>\n

With the shutdown of M\u00fchleberg, there are four nuclear power stations left in the country ranging in age from 35 to 50 years old.<\/p>\n