Netherlands

As of 31 December 2022

A single 485 MWe PWR is operating at Borssele, about 70 km southwest of Rotterdam.

Interest in nuclear has been rekindled following the government’s announcement in May 2018 of a draft law for phasing out coal-fired generation by 2030.

In April 2023 the government announced its draft Climate Fund for 2024, which includes €320 million for the development of nuclear energy. Of this funding, €10 million would go towards studies over the period 2023-2025 regarding the operating lifetime extension of the Borssele plant; €117 million has been allocated for studies on the construction of two new reactors; €65 million would go towards investment in nuclear skills; and €65 million would be used to support the development of SMRs.

Plans to extend the operating lifetime of the Borssele plant beyond its 2033 licence expiration were first considered in December 2022, with technical studies carried out by the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection. The same month, the government earmarked the Borssele site as the most suitable location for the construction of two new reactors. However, it said that a final decision on the location would not be made before the end of 2024. Preliminary plans suggest that the reactors would have a capacity of 1000-1650 MWe, providing 9-13% of the country’s electricity, and could be completed by around 2035.

Figure Ne1. Annual electricity output (TWh) and age of reactors (years) at time of generation

Figure Ne2. Average capacity factor of reactors in Netherlands

Figure Ne3. Emissions avoidance through use of nuclear generation in Netherlands

WNN Links

Dutch government allocates funding for nuclear programme : World Nuclear News - 27 April 2023

Permit applications submitted for new Dutch research reactor : World Nuclear News - 7 July 2022