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Sweden is relying on nuclear power

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Jana Sinram
May 16, 2026

While Germany has put a stop to nuclear power, Sweden continues to rely on it and expand it. But power companies are no longer building the large nuclear plants of the past, but are opting for small, flexible ones instead.

In Valdemarsvik, opposition is growing against plans for a new nuclear power plant. Activists — including a former nuclear engineer — warn that heated cooling water could damage the Baltic Sea fjord ecosystem and harm tourism. Developers promote small modular reactors (SMRs) as a future energy solution. Sweden’s government is pushing nuclear expansion to secure climate-neutral electricity and energy independence. A final decision has yet to be made.

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