Swiss study: nuclear power plants can safely operate for 80 years.

The Swiss Federal Council adopted a report concluding that operating the Gösgen and Leibstadt nuclear power plants for a period of 80 years is technically feasible and, in most analyzed scenarios, economically viable. This document, commissioned by the Senate, represents a key step in redefining Switzerland's energy strategy and ensuring stable supply during the winter months.

A study conducted by Frontier Economics and Siempelkamp NIS estimates that investments required for the technical upgrade of the facilities range between 700 million and 1.2 billion Swiss francs per plant. The report emphasizes that government financial support is currently not necessary, as operators are expected to recoup their invested funds through the sale of electricity on the market.

However, we add that the main risks identified are not technical challenges, but political and regulatory uncertainty. Operators insist on a stable and predictable legal framework so they can plan investments that are amortized over decades.

The Challenge of Maintaining Knowledge

In addition to technical aspects, the report identifies one of the most serious challenges for long-term operation: preserving specific knowledge and skills. Operators emphasize that maintaining a skilled workforce and expert experience over a period of eight decades is a critical factor that requires systematic planning.

Otherwise, after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, Switzerland decided on a gradual phase-out of nuclear energy. However, the energy crisis and the need for decarbonization led to a major shift: in 2025 the Federal Council presented a draft law that would lift the ban on building new nuclear power plants. At the same time, Axpo is already examining the possibility that the Beznau nuclear power plant, whose two units were put into operation in 1969 and 1972, will continue operating beyond the planned 60 years.

Currently, four Swiss reactors produce about a third of the country’s electricity.

The Swiss example is valuable because it dispels the myth of aging of older reactors. The focus on a working life of 80 years shows that nuclear power plants, with adequate investment, represent the longest-lasting and most reliable energy infrastructure that humanity currently possesses. Moreover, Switzerland is unique: unlike the usual practice where reactors receive a license for 40 years and it is usually renewed twice for 20 years each – Swiss reactors have unlimited operating licenses and the Nuclear Energy Act does not provide an expiration date and the plant can operate as long as the operator proves that it meets the safety criteria set by the regulator (ENSI). Of course, although the license is unlimited, it is not “blank” so operators must submit safety reviews every 10 years – the operator, for example, must prove that the critical components (such as the reactor vessel) are still within endurance limits and that the equipment has been modernized in accordance with the latest technological standards – while for reactors older than 40 years, this process is more rigorous.