Denmark is considering reversing its 40-year ban on nuclear power to bolster its energy security, according to its energy minister, signaling a potential major policy shift in a nation that has historically prioritized wind and solar energy expansion.
The Danish government will conduct an analysis of the potential advantages of new nuclear power technologies, with a report expected to be completed next year, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard told Danish daily Politiken in an interview published late on Tuesday.
“We can see that there is a development underway with new nuclear power technologies – small, modular reactors,” Aagaard said, in remarks confirmed by his ministry on Wednesday.
“But it’s not enough that they have potential. We also need to know what it means for Danish society if we are to enable these technologies,” he stated.
He also ruled out the possibility of traditional nuclear power technologies returning to Denmark, which banned them in 1985.
“We continue the energy policy we have pursued for many years in Denmark. Solar and wind are the cheapest and fastest way to the green transition,” Aagaard emphasized.
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In 2005, Danes celebrated when neighboring Sweden shut down the Barseback 2 nuclear reactor, located near Copenhagen just across the Oresund strait.
While Sweden has closed more of its nuclear plants over the past decade, the current Swedish government has adopted a strongly pro-nuclear stance and is seeking to build new capacity.
Aagaard is scheduled to appear at a public hearing in parliament later on Wednesday to answer questions from opposition parties that support the revival of nuclear power.
