Sweden Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in Sweden, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals.
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Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies
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Overview

Sweden’s energy mix is one of the cleanest and most decarbonized in the world. Nearly 99% of electricity is accounted for by hydro, nuclear, renewables (wind and solar, bioenergy) and some CHP. This energy mix has provided impressive results: Sweden has both lowest CO2 emission rates and the lowest electricity prices (2024) of all the EU countries.

Electricity production in Sweden by fossil free source in 2024:
•    Hydropower 41%
•    Nuclear power 29%
•    Wind power 19%
•    Combined heat & power (CHP) 9%
•    Solar and bioelectricity 1%

Swedish government has estimated that electricity production needs to double by 2045 to enable the electrification of both the energy intensive manufacturing industry and the transportation sector. Against this background, the government presented a roadmap for new nuclear power in 2023, clarifying the goals and providing long-term conditions for new nuclear power development.

Opportunities

Currently Sweden operates six nuclear reactors across three power plants, with four boiling water reactors and two pressurized water ones. All of these were built in the 1970s and 1980s, and almost at the end of their lifespan. The state owned Vattenfall operates two of the plants and the third one is operated by Uniper and Fortum.

The roadmap will enable new nuclear power with a total output of at least 2,500 MW, equivalent to the capacity of two large-scale reactors, to be in place by 2035, and the building of additional nuclear reactors in 2045. The government has already taken several measures to remove obstacles and facilitate the establishment of new nuclear power, which is now being supplemented by more measures in the roadmap.

While the utilities have already started looking at different nuclear technology options – both SMRs and full-scale reactors -, some of the key concerns have been the financing and the lack of risk sharing models for such large investments. In May 2025, the Swedish government adopted a new model for financing and risk sharing in connection with nuclear power investments, to support the construction of new nuclear power plants. This model includes state aid in the form of government loans and two-way Contracts for Difference (CfDs), along with a risk and profit-sharing mechanisms to make nuclear investments more attractive to private investors.

State aid is limited and is planned to include investments of up to a total installed capacity of approximately 5 000 MW, which is equivalent to four large-scale reactors. Government loans are provided for the construction and testing of new nuclear reactors, and for planning and other preparatory measures, and an injection of share capital is also required. Government loans must be repaid in instalments once a nuclear reactor becomes operational.

Resources 

Swedish Energy Agency
Ministry of Climate & Enterprise report on expansion of nuclear power in Sweden

Trade Events:
Energi Expo – The Future of Energy, May 20-21, 2026, Stockholm
Sweden’s largest energy trade show and conference

Local Commercial Specialist: Tuula Ahlstrom, Tuula.Ahlstrom@trade.gov.

 

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