Gemini: Yes, Switzerland currently operates three commercial nuclear power plants containing a total of four nuclear reactors. Together, they generate roughly 30% to 35% of the country’s electricity.
Operating Nuclear Power Plants
| Plant | Location (Canton) | Reactors | Operational Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beznau | Aargau | Beznau 1 & Beznau 2 | 1969 (Unit 1) / 1971 (Unit 2) | Beznau 1 is the world’s oldest commercially operating nuclear power plant. |
| Gösgen | Solothurn | 1 Reactor | 1979 | Also supplies district heating to nearby homes and industrial facilities. |
| Leibstadt | Aargau | 1 Reactor | 1984 | Switzerland’s newest and most powerful reactor. |
Decommissioned & Inactive Plants
- Mühleberg (Bern): Permanently shut down in December 2019 for economic reasons. It is currently undergoing a multi-year decommissioning process.
- Lucens (Vaud): An experimental underground reactor that experienced a partial core meltdown in 1969; it was subsequently closed, decontaminated, and decommissioned.
What is Switzerland’s Policy on Nuclear Power?
- Unlimited Lifespans (Subject to Safety): Unlike some countries with hard operational deadlines, Swiss reactors are legally licensed to operate as long as they meet strict safety standards set by the Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI). The operators of Beznau plan to run the units into the early 2030s.
- Phase-out Initiative (2017): Following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Swiss voters approved Energy Strategy 2050 in 2017, which banned the construction of new nuclear power plants while allowing existing ones to run until their end-of-life.
- Re-evaluating the Ban: Driven by geopolitical energy uncertainty, climate goals, and rising winter electricity demand, the Swiss Federal Council proposed lifting the ban on constructing new nuclear power plants to keep nuclear energy as a long-term option for grid stability.