Bills submitted to parliament to allow more coastal locations and streamline licensing
The Swedish government has approved three draft laws aimed at making it easier to build new nuclear power plants and expand nuclear generation in the country, a statement said.
The proposals, which will now be submitted to parliament for approval, include changes to environmental legislation that would allow nuclear plants to be considered in more coastal locations.
The statement said the changes are intended to allow more companies, both established and new, to invest in nuclear power across a wider range of locations.
Acting minister of climate and environment Johan Britz said the decision opens the way for more players, large and small, to invest in nuclear power.
"When more companies are given the opportunity to build new nuclear power, we strengthen competition and innovation in the energy sector, which is good for both the climate and jobs," he said.
The government also introduced measures to make the permitting process more efficient, including a new law that allows for earlier decisions from the government and local municipalities.
Another proposal would enable developers to seek binding advance decisions on specific technical issues to provide greater regulatory certainty during the assessment phase.
The legislative package also includes provisions enabling the restart of shut-down reactors. Sweden has six large-scale reactors that have been permanently taken offline, and previous restrictions had made it illegal to restart them.
The bills will also propose that a facility for the extraction and processing of nuclear materials would no longer be classified as a nuclear facility under Swedish law.
Minister of energy Ebba Busch said the legislative changes would create better conditions for new nuclear power, provide simpler permit processes and enable nuclear development in more locations across Sweden.
The new approval law will apply to applications for new nuclear power submitted after 10 March 2026. Legislative amendments relating to the permit review process are proposed to enter into force on 17 June 2026, with the remaining changes taking effect on 15 July 2026.
Sweden's Nuclear 'Revival'
The legislative package follows a broader government push to revive nuclear power in Sweden since 2022.
Last month the government said it would increase support to SEK 20 million (€1.9m, $2.1bn) from SEK 15 million for municipalities wishing to carry out feasibility studies into new nuclear. Thirteen municipalities carried out such pilot projects during 2024-2025, with several showing conditions suitable for new nuclear power.
In May 2025, Sweden passed a law establishing a state aid framework including government-backed loans and two-way contracts for difference for companies planning to build nuclear reactors, covering projects with a total capacity of up to 5,000 MW.
The government has proposed a financial framework of up to SEK 220 billion over 12 years to support new reactor construction, with annual price guarantee allocations of SEK 1-3 billion for up to 40 years after new units begin operation.
State-controlled utility Vattenfall has requested state financing to build new reactors at its Ringhals plant, with plans for small modular reactors on the Varo peninsula in southwest Sweden through its subsidiary Videberg Kraft.
Sweden has six reactor units in commercial operation at three sites: Forsmark, Oskarshamn and Ringhals. According to International Atomic Energy Agency data, nuclear energy provided 29% of the country’s electricity generation in 2024.
