Sweden’s government has put forward several proposals to support the establishment of new nuclear power, including a new approval law, enabling more sites for nuclear power on the coast and increasing state support for municipality feasibility studies. At a press conference organised by the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Climate & Business, Climate & Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari explained: “Now we are opening up so that more actors, both old and new, large and small, can invest in new nuclear power in more places around the country.”
The proposals, which will be referred to the Legislative Council, include a new law to enable an earlier position on new nuclear facilities from the government and the municipalities concerned compared with the current regime. This will provide increased stability and predictability allowing certain risks to be managed earlier in the project. However, the Government’s current admissibility examination under the Environmental Code will remain in place for those who do not wish to use the new law.
The Government also seeks to improve the efficiency of permitting procedures by making it possible to obtain a binding advance notice on technical matters so that those who intend to apply for a permit at an early stage can find out whether a technical solution meets the necessary requirements. The Government is also implementing amendments enabling the restart of shut-down reactors.
The proposals include amending the Environmental Code to enable new nuclear power in more coastal areas. This would remove restrictions on investigations for new nuclear power in places that could be suitable. The aim is to facilitate the expansion of new nuclear power in Sweden.
The current ban excludes places that could be suitable for new nuclear power without any examination in individual cases. The Government proposes replacing bans with case-by-case assessment while maintaining the protection of natural and cultural values. The amendments will not affect the permit procedures for nuclear installations in general.
The proposed changes would remove the ban on nuclear facilities within the coastal areas and archipelagos of Bohuslän from the border with Norway to Brofjorden, in Småland and Östergötland from Simpevarp to Arkösund and in Ångermanland from Storfjärden at the mouth of the Ångermanälven to Skagsudde and on Öland.
The proposed changes would also remove the ban on nuclear facilities within the coastal areas and archipelagos from Brofjorden to Simpevarp and from Arkösund to Forsmark, along the coast of Gotland, on Östergarn and Storsudret on Gotland and on Fårö in places other than where there are already some industrial and similar facilities.
The Government has decided that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will distribute SEK20m ($2.2m) to municipalities wishing to undertake feasibility studies for new nuclear power. The purpose of the grant is to prepare for and reduce the time needed for new nuclear permit procedures.
In 2024 and 2025, the Government allocated a total of SEK15m for municipalities considering new nuclear. Now the possibility of state co-financing for the municipalities’ feasibility studies is proposed to increase to SEK 20m a year until 2030 in order to provide more long-term investigations.
The amendments are proposed to enter into force on 15 July 2026. Swedish energy has got off to a new start said Energy & Economic Affairs Minister Ebba Busch. “With today’s decision, we create better conditions for new nuclear power. It provides simpler permit processes and enables more nuclear power in more places.”
Financial Markets Minister Niklas Wykman noted: “The proposals create an opportunity for nuclear power in more places in Sweden while maintaining nature conservation. It creates the conditions for more companies to invest in new nuclear power. With increased competition, we can keep investment costs down and that is good for taxpayers.”
Tobias Andersson, Chairman of the business committee, Sweden Democrats, said municipalities have an important role in allowing new nuclear power. “Now they are once again given the opportunity to apply for grants to carry out preliminary studies that contribute to enabling effective planning and permit processes thereby bringing them closer to a decision on the establishment of nuclear facilities.”
Sweden had voted in a non-binding 1980 referendum to phase out nuclear power. Since then, six of its 12 ageing reactors have been shut down. The remaining six reactors currently generate about 30% of its electricity needs. However, in 2022, the new centre-right coalition government reversed this policy and in 2023 drew up a roadmap envisaging the construction of new nuclear capacity equivalent to at least two large-scale reactors by 2035, with up to 10 coming online by 2045.
In May 2025, the Riksdag (parliament) approved government proposals for providing state aid to companies that want to invest in new nuclear. The new act on state aid entered into force on 1 August, enabling interested companies to apply for support. Later in August, Vattenfall selected small modular reactors (SMRs) for new nuclear capacity at the Ringhals NPP site, shortlisting two technologies: GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 and the Rolls-Royce SMR. It said it would apply to the government for state risk-sharing.
In September 2025, in the Government’s budget bill for 2026, financial frameworks were proposed enabling the government to negotiate with companies that apply for support to construct new nuclear plants. They involve financial powers to enter into agreements and decide on loans for investments in new nuclear and on price hedging agreements within these frameworks. Agreements can be signed in 2026 and 2027.
