The operation of Swiss plants for up to 80 years is possible.

Switzerland's Federal Council has released a report indicating that it is technically possible and potentially profitable to operate the Gösgen and Leibstadt nuclear power plants for up to 80 years.

Currently, Switzerland has four nuclear reactors: two at the Beznau plant, and one each at Gösgen and Leibstadt, which supply about one-third of the country's electricity. All reactors have unlimited operating licenses and can continue functioning as long as they meet safety standards.

A recent government report, prompted by a Senate postulate, explores the implications of long-term operation of the Gösgen and Leibstadt nuclear plants and the potential construction of a new nuclear facility. It assesses the regulatory, financial, and energy policy conditions necessary for safe operation beyond 60 years. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy previously validated the technical and economic feasibility of running Swiss nuclear plants for up to 60 years, so the current report mainly focuses on the extended period beyond that.

The findings suggest that operating Gösgen and Leibstadt for 80 years is technically viable and typically cost-effective. The Federal Council stated that financial backing is not currently required.

The report mentions that maintaining long-term operations can help mitigate potential winter electricity shortages, contingent on operators making necessary renovations.

Investment for technical enhancements to facilitate long-term operations should be based on realistic future electricity price projections and costs. However, political and regulatory uncertainties, such as potential early shutdowns or stricter safety protocols, pose non-economic risks. A stable regulatory environment is crucial, and operators note that preserving essential expertise and skills is challenging, especially for long-term nuclear plant operations.

Frontier Economics and Siempelkamp NIS, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, evaluated the necessary technical upgrades, investment costs, profitability, and non-financial risks for the long-term operation of Gösgen and Leibstadt for up to 80 years. They found that required investments for technical improvements could range from CHF0.7 billion to CHF1.2 billion (USD0.9-1.5 billion).

The report highlights that decisions on a nuclear plant's lifespan are tied to business considerations, with operators likely to pursue long-term operation only if they expect to recover their investments profitably.

Profitability seems likely under realistic electricity pricing and investment cost assumptions. A significant profitability deficit appears unlikely unless very unfavorable conditions persist. The main investment risks stem more from political and regulatory uncertainties than technical challenges, necessitating a stable and predictable long-term framework for planning.

Gösgen is a 1010 MWe pressurized water reactor that began operations in November 1979. It is managed by Kernkraftwerk Gösgen-Däniken AG on behalf of five stakeholders: Alpiq AG (40%), Axpo Power AG (25%), the City of Zurich (15%), Centralschweizerische Kraftwerke AG (12.5%), and Energie Wasser Bern (7.5%). The plant meets around 13% of Switzerland's electricity demand.

Leibstadt, featuring a single boiling water reactor from the early 1980s, generates 1165 MWe for six utilities and supplies electricity to two million households. Since 1984, Kernkraftwerk Leibstadt AG has invested approximately EUR1.5 billion (USD1.6 billion) in the plant's modernization and maintenance, with an additional EUR1 billion planned for upcoming renovations to ensure safe and economical electricity generation until at least 2045.

Switzerland sought a new energy policy following the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in March 2011. In the subsequent months, the Swiss parliament and government decided to phase out nuclear energy. The Energy Strategy 2050 initiative implemented by the Federal Council took effect on January 1, 2018, promoting a gradual nuclear phase-out while encouraging renewable and hydro power, albeit with a temporary increase in fossil fuel use and electricity imports.

In August of last year, the Federal Council introduced draft legislation aimed at lifting the ban on constructing new nuclear power plants.

In April 2024, Swiss utility Axpo announced that it is exploring the technical feasibility of extending the operation of the two-unit Beznau nuclear power plant beyond the currently planned 60 years. The two 365 MWe Westinghouse pressurized water reactors at Beznau are Switzerland's oldest, with Unit 1 starting operations in 1969 and Unit 2 in 1972. Both units also provide district heating alongside electricity generation.