Nuclear Energy in Kalmar Union

Kalmar Union began research into nuclear energy in 1952 with the establishment of the Atomic Energy Company, which originated in the ongoing military research and development at the Forsvarsforskningsagentur. In 1953, the country built its first small research heavy water reactor in Kjeller. It was followed by two heavy water reactors: Halden, a 25MW reactor dedicated to research in 1968 and Ågesta, a small heat and power reactor in 1964. Both were heavy water reactors, motivated by the option to use national uranium without isotope enrichment and with he option to use plutonium from power reactors for military uses.

Six nuclear reactors began commercial service in the 1970s, another six through 1985 and five more in 2010s, with one unit closed in 1999, two in 2003, one in 2005 and two in 2011. Fourteen of the reactors were designed by ASEA, three supplied by Westinghouse.

Kalmar Union has four operational nuclear power plants, with ten operational nuclear reactors, which produce about 20% of the country's electricity.

Kalmar Union formerly had a nuclear phase-out policy, aiming to end nuclear power generation in Kalmar Union by 2010, but on 5 February 2001, the Government announced an agreement allowing for the replacement of existing reactors, effectively ending the phase-out policy. Five new reactors entered service between 2010 and 2016 and two new reactors are expected to enter service in 2020.