In Sweden, nuclear power has rapidly returned to the top of the political agenda. After having been on the verge of being phased out just a few years ago, the government is now calling for increased investment and has opened the door to new types of reactors. The state‑owned energy company Vattenfall has applied for permission to build small modular reactors at the Ringhals site, while several European countries are simultaneously expanding their nuclear power programmes.
Nuclear technology is evolving, and with it both risk profiles and the questions the technology raises are changing. At the same time, the global security situation has deteriorated, and the threat posed by nuclear weapons has once again become a reality. As a result, the questions surrounding nuclear power are today both more numerous and more complex than before.
With the new grant of SEK 27 million from the Swedish Research Council, researchers at Lund University will spend six years building a research environment focused on the safety‑ and society‑related aspects of nuclear power.
The project is one of four to receive funding under a targeted national initiative in nuclear engineering research. The three other projects, led by KTH Royal Institute of Technology, focus on technology development and reactor physics. Lund University’s project takes a different approach.
“Technology is important, but it does not tell the whole story. We need to understand how future nuclear power will affect people and society. That is where our project comes in,” says Kristina Stenström, project leader.
A changing landscape
Today, Sweden’s nuclear power consists of large reactors built in the 1970s and 1980s, so‑called Generation II facilities. Over the years, these plants have been upgraded and now meet safety standards comparable to those of Generation III reactors.
If plans for new nuclear power are realised, however, the future energy system could become far more diverse. It may include everything from large, advanced facilities to small modular reactors, potentially located in municipalities that have never previously hosted nuclear power.
This raises a number of questions: How will emissions change? How will those working at the facilities be affected? How can clear and comprehensible information be provided to the public?
“It is easy to think that more nuclear power is simply about building new reactors. But it is just as much about how we, as a society, understand and manage them,” says Kristina Stenström.
Three research areas with a shared goal
The project at Lund University takes a broad approach to the future of nuclear power, focusing on three key areas: the environment, safety and communication.
Environmental monitoring
As new types of reactors are introduced, emission patterns will change. Researchers will therefore investigate how future environmental monitoring should be designed. The aim is to develop monitoring methods that are both robust and cost‑effective, and that can measure radioactive substances not currently included in Swedish monitoring programmes.
Worker safety
Radiation protection is currently based on a clear guiding principle: exposure should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. However, protection is not only about radiation. In this project, researchers will examine whether the precautionary principle, as applied in practice, may sometimes lead to other types of occupational risks. A further key component is analysing how different stakeholders view future models for understanding and managing radiation risks.
Communication with the public
If small modular reactors become a reality, Sweden may see the emergence of many new nuclear host communities. This will require communication that fosters understanding and a sense of security. Researchers will compare how risks are communicated in Sweden and internationally, and explore how information strategies can be developed to meet future needs.
Academia’s own competence challenge
Kristina Stenström is working closely with Charlotta Nilsson, who is responsible for education and skills provision within the project. For both of them, one goal is just as important as the research itself: educating a new generation of researchers with specialist expertise in the field.
“There are too few of us today who can teach and supervise in nuclear physics. If Sweden is to make well‑informed decisions about nuclear power and radiation more broadly, this expertise is essential—regardless of whether or not we build new reactors,” says Charlotta Nilsson.
The project therefore includes three PhD positions and investments in new courses at both undergraduate and advanced levels. In the longer term, the researchers hope to recruit more teaching staff and offer a strong educational environment in nuclear engineering and radiation safety.
An interdisciplinary journey
The project brings together researchers from five faculties at two universities: science, engineering, medicine and social sciences at Lund University, as well as the humanities at Karlstad University. For Kristina Stenström, this is key to achieving a more comprehensive understanding of the role of nuclear power.
“As physicists, we often work with models and numbers. In this project, we bring in additional perspectives, and together we can see things we have not seen before. That is both exciting and necessary.”
With funding from the Swedish Research Council, Lund University now has the opportunity to build a research environment that not only follows developments in nuclear power, but also helps to shape them.
“Nuclear power will change, and with it the risks and the questions we face. Our goal is for Sweden to be well prepared—not only technically, but also societally,” says Kristina Stenström.
Kristina Stenström's profile in Lund University Research portal.
Charlotta Nilsson's profile in Lund University Research portal.