On 24 August 2023, the Swedish small modular reactor (SMR) project development firm Kärnfull Next (KNXT) annouced its plans for a cutting-edge SMR campus in Nyköping, Sweden, which is planned to power data centers.
The proposed site is Studsvik's industrial area, located on Sweden's eastern coast, where the company has secured prospecting rights and signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the potential for commercial nuclear energy production.
A feasibility study has been underway since May, and preliminary findings indicate that the Studsvik area could be an optimal location for commercial small modular reactors. This comprehensive study aims to assess not just the financial and technological viability, but also the environmental and societal impacts of the project. The final results are expected to be published in December of this year. If the feasibility study remains favorable and local approval is obtained, pivotal decisions concerning financial backing, permitting, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with energy buyers will be addressed in the latter half of 2024.
The project is poised to become a major, eco-focused employer, potentially providing significant employment opportunities for Nyköping and surrounding communities, and the future of the project is set to be determined jointly by Kärnfull Next and Studsvik, following the completion of the pre-feasibility study later this year.
With this initiative, Kärnfull Next is taking a significant step toward revolutionizing Sweden's energy landscape by integrating state-of-the-art, flexible nuclear power production. This could not only bolster Sweden's efforts toward sustainable energy but also provide a blueprint for similar endeavors globally.
“The Studsvik site seems to be well suited to become Sweden’s first new nuclear power site, accompanying the three that already exist," said Christian Sjölander, CEO and founder of Kärnfull Next. "Our vision is that one of Europe’s first SMR parks can be taken into operation here already in the early 2030s. Having several small reactors creates future-proof jobs and opportunities for co-location with other high-tech industries."
