Analysis of Nuclear Power in Denmark 

Ea Energy Analyses and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have carried out an analysis of nuclear power in the form of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) in Denmark. The client is the Danish Energy Agency. 

The analysis comprises a technical overview of SMR technologies and an analysis of the value of nuclear power in the Danish energy system (system value). The analysis has identified a number of promising technologies that could be put into serial production before 2040. By using most recent construction cost estimates for the planned four BWRX-300 reactors in Darlington, Canada, as reference, three scenarios for cost reduction towards 2050 have been developed: Optimistic, Central, Pessimistic. 

We have five main observations and conclusions from the analysis: 

1. The most mature SMR technologies are based on light water reactor (LWR) designs. They could be put into serial production in the period 2030-2035 if demonstration projects succeed and substantial investments are made. 

2. There are no reference data for SMRs operation or costs in the Western world. The developed cost reduction scenarios are therefore highly uncertain. 

3. Construction costs must decrease substantially in order to make SMR technologies competitive with RE technologies in the Danish energy system. 

4. If it is possible to utilize heat for district heating purposes (combined heat and power), the system value of SMR will increase by more than 30%. SMR with heat utilization becomes cost competitive in Denmark shortly after 2040 in the Central cost reduction scenario. 

5. SMR without heat utilization must follow a development path close to the optimistic cost reduction scenario in order to become cost competitive in Denmark (and a number of other European countries) towards 2050. 

Reports can be downloaded here (Main report in Danish)

• Hovedrapport
• System Analysis
• Technology Overview

Contacts: Hans Henrik Lindboe og Jesper Troelsgaard Werling