{"id":68073,"date":"2024-10-14T15:41:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-14T12:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?post_type=blog&p=68073"},"modified":"2025-06-18T16:01:48","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T13:01:48","slug":"nuclear-power-is-a-part-of-the-energy-system-of-today-and-tomorrow","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/blog\/nuclear-power-is-a-part-of-the-energy-system-of-today-and-tomorrow\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuclear power is a part of the energy system of today and tomorrow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Nuclear power as an industry is not going anywhere. New technologies also offer new opportunities for local energy companies, and there will be plenty of work for young specialists in the international sector in the future as well.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A few years ago, nuclear power was considered a “sunset industry”. At the moment, the perception is different. Nuclear power produces more than 40 percent of Finland’s electricity needs, and the world is experiencing a new wave of nuclear power. More than 60 nuclear reactors are under construction globally to support the electrification of societies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sweco has participated in domestic and international nuclear power projects for five decades. Faced with a global energy crisis and the need for energy self-sufficiency, the role of nuclear power in the green transition cannot be ignored.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The service life of nuclear power plants has doubled<\/h2>\n

From a technological point of view, the nuclear power industry is constantly evolving. The new nuclear power plants are far from the plants of the 80s, which is particularly evident in safety, usability, and maintainability. Legislation has also changed, and it will be possible to build nuclear reactors closer to residential centers in the future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The development of technology has extended the service life of nuclear power plants. The old plants were built for a 30-year life cycle; the current ones are designed for 60\u201380 years. This must be taken into account at every stage of design and construction, as well as in maintenance. Even though maintenance breaks at nuclear power plants make the headlines, the utilization rate of Finnish nuclear power plants is over 90 percent!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Serial production is revolutionary for small nuclear power plants<\/h2>\n

Existing plants will continue to operate for decades, but modern technology has also brought new alternatives to the market. Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) are the future of nuclear power, although the word “small” is misleading. A small nuclear power plant is not transported on a trailer, but they are the size of a football field, whereas the area of a traditional power plant is measured in kilometers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most revolutionary aspect of small nuclear power plants is modularity and the serial production it enables. Modularity brings repeatability to the implementation, which makes certification and licensing easier. Projects in this field are underway around the world, and Steady Energy is at the forefront of development in Finland. Sweco is the company’s main partner in design.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Small nuclear power plants are currently also of interest to national operators such as Fortum and Helen, as well as local energy companies from Kuopio to Lappeenranta. We will hear about the start of new projects in the next few years, and Finland will need new nuclear power capacity by the 2050s at the latest. Nuclear power projects are long, demanding**,** and complex, so now is the time to take action. Sweco is able to offer a wide range of expertise and project personnel for projects, from site selection to commissioning tasks when the plant is completed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The nuclear power industry needs new experts!<\/h2>\n

Nuclear power needs new experts. Many veterans of the field are close to retirement, and I myself have worked as a consultant in nuclear power plants for more than 15 years. In our company, we have a huge amount of invaluable experience to share with new generations because, despite excellent training, this work can only be learned by doing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In our projects, young designers have the opportunity to grow and learn the management of the entire life cycle of nuclear power plants, from design to maintenance and controlled shutdown, alongside experienced experts. The field is interesting for several reasons:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Internationality<\/span><\/b>. We start by describing the spirit of doing things together and the sense of internationality. The design of nuclear power plants is a global business, with partners coming from all over the world. The projects are based on extensive networks and well-functioning cooperation, which we excel at.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The risks are small<\/span><\/b>. The idea of working in a nuclear power plant while being exposed to radiation is incorrect. In theory, it is possible that those working in nuclear power plants receive even less radiation each year than ordinary citizens. In fact, the risks are lower than in many other industries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hybrid work<\/span><\/b>. Nuclear power plant designers and consultants are not tied to a specific location. Although we often visit customers on-site, hybrid working is the norm. Instead of the place of residence, it is the expertise that is decisive. And there is plenty of work to do!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to know more about our services or open positions, please contact us!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ville-Veikko Karhunen<\/span><\/b>, Regional Manager and Nuclear Power Expert, ville-veikko.karhunen@sweco.fi<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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