Switzerland - World Nuclear Outlook Report
Projection of future nuclear capacity in Switzerland in 2050
|
60-year operation (MWe) |
80-year operation (MWe) |
Under Construction (MWe) |
Planned (MWe) |
Proposed (MWe) |
Potential (MWe) |
Government target (MWe) |
Total for 2050 (MWe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 |
2608 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2608 |
Switzerland has four operable reactors – Beznau 1&2, Gösgen and Leibstadt, with a combined capacity of 2973 MWe. Both Beznau and Gösgen produce district heating in addition to power. Beznau makes available 80 MW of heat to industry and homes over a 130 km network serving 11 towns – potentially 2.5 PJ/yr.
In May 2011, following the Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan, the Swiss federal government declared that the country's nuclear power plants would gradually be phased out. In May 2017 a referendum approved the government’s Energy Strategy 2050, which included the provision for a gradual withdrawal from nuclear power162.
In August 2025 Switzerland's Federal Council presented draft legislation that would remove the country's ban on the construction of new nuclear power.163
Long-term operation
All operational Swiss reactors have had power uprates – the Beznau units from 350 MWe to 365 MWe, Gösgen from 920 MWe to 1010 MWe, and Leibstadt from 990 MWe progressively to 1220 MWe.
