The cost of building a new nuclear power plant in Switzerland could be between CHF14bn and CHF43bn (€14.9bn and €45.8bn; $17.4bn and $53.5bn) – a range that reflects varying assumptions about reactor size, construction conditions and financing costs, according to a report by the Swiss Academy of Sciences.

Researchers at the independent body based their estimates on current large-scale reactor costs of roughly CHF11,500 to CHF12,000 per kilowatt of capacity.

They evaluated two reactor models: a 1,250 MW unit from US vendor Westinghouse and a 1,630 MW design from France’s EDF.

In an optimistic scenario with minimal delays, costs would total CHF14bn for the Westinghouse reactor and CHF21bn for the EDF model.

Under a less favourable scenario with typical construction setbacks, expenses could rise to CHF25bn and CHF43bn respectively, the report said.