Nuclear power in Norway

No nuclear power plant has ever been established in Norway; however, the country has a legal framework for licensing the construction and operation of nuclear installations.^[1] Also, four research reactors have been built in Norway. The four reactors were located in Kjeller and Halden and were as follows:

• Kjeller reactors at Institute for Energy Technology
  • NORA (activated 1961, shut down 1967)
  • JEEP I (activated 1951, shut down 1967)
  • JEEP II (activated 1966, shut down 2018)
• Halden reactor
  • HBWR - Halden Boiling Water Reactor (activated 1958, shut down 2018)

In 2019, Norway's last remaining nuclear reactor left in operation, the JEEP II reactor at Kjeller, was shut down after more than 50 years of service.^[2][3] In 2021, the Norwegian Green Party stated their support for development of nuclear energy as an alternative source of energy in order to reach the IPCC's goal of preventing global warming by 1.5 degrees.^[4]

In 2020 it was estimated dismantling the Halden and Kjeller research reactors and restoring the sites to unrestricted use will cost about NOK20 billion (US$2 billion) and take 20 to 25 years.^[5]

There has been discussions about the possible usage of nuclear energy, which is supported by some industry leaders.^[6] Statkraft together with Vattenfall, Fortum and the energy investment company Scatec announced plans to investigate building of a thorium-fueled power plant in 2007 which was never realized.^[7] In 2010, Aker Solutions purchased patents from Nobel Prize winning physicist Carlo Rubbia for the design of a proton accelerator-based thorium nuclear power plant,^[8] but was subsequently sold to Jacobs Engineering Group in 2011.^[9] In late 2012, Norway's privately owned Thor Energy, in collaboration with the government and Westinghouse, announced a four-year trial using thorium in an existing nuclear reactor.^[10]

See also

• Norway portal
• Energy portal

• Institute for Energy Technology

References

1. "Regulatory and Institutional Framework for Nuclear Activities. Norway" (PDF). Nuclear Legislation in OECD Countries. OECD/NEA. 2001. ISSN 1727-3854. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-08-11.
2. "Norges siste atomreaktor stenges – milliardopprydning venter" [Norway's last nuclear plant is shut down -]. www.dagsavisen.no (in Norwegian). 25 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
3. Haugstad, Tormod; NTB (2019-04-25). "– Vemodig at det er slutt på norsk atomkraft" [– Melancholic as Norwegian nuclear power comes to an end]. tu.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
4. Strømme, Simen Hunding (27 March 2021). "MDGs vedtak om støtte til atomkraft skaper reaksjoner" [The Green Party's resolution on support for nuclear power rouses reactions]. NRK (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
5. "Norwegian reactor dismantling to cost almost USD2 billion". World Nuclear News. 18 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-02-17. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
6. Solholm, Rolleiv (2007-05-23). "Norwegian industry wants nuclear energy". The Norway Post. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
7. Williams, Liz (2007-05-24). "Green nuclear power coming to Norway". Cosmos. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
8. Boyle, Rebecca (2010-08-30). "Development of Tiny Thorium Reactors Could Wean the World Off Oil In Just Five Years". Popular Science. Archived from the original on 2021-03-14. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
9. US patent 5774514, Carlo Rubbia, "Energy amplifier for nuclear energy production driven by a particle beam accelerator"
10. Halper, Mark (2012-12-23). "Norway ringing in thorium nuclear New Year with Westinghouse at the party". SmartPlanet. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2012-11-28.