Nuclear energy for the 21st century - lessons from Sweden

Nuclear power has been in use in Sweden for many years and now supplies a significant share of the national electricity demand. The plentiful supply of reliable and cheap electricity has been a crucial element in Sweden's economic development and the increasing use of electricity from nuclear power instead of from fossil fuels has had a significant benefit for the environment. However, the Swedish Government is committed to phasing out nuclear power by the year 2010. This Paper reviews the performance of Swedish nuclear power and shows its great potential for a continued role in driving the Swedish economy. (author)