Swiss energy group Axpo has shelved plans to develop a new nuclear station in favour of a gas-fired CHP plant, according to Platts.
"We will keep our hands off nuclear at the moment because it doesn't make sense, but are now looking into building a combined heat and power plant," said the spokesman.
With power demand expected to result in shortages by 2012, the company is understood to be considering some 800MW of CHP capacity to meet the anticipated shortfall. "From 2012, we urgently need capacity, and because a nuclear unit would need about 20 years to be built – 15 years of political debate and five for building work – we are looking at gas," said a spokesman.
