- Finnmark relies on hydro plants and wind turbines for electricity but imports power during low wind periods; nuclear power could provide a consistent supply.
- In June 2023, Vardø municipality and Norsk Kjernekraft agreed to explore building a nuclear power plant in Svartnes, potentially tripling Finnmark’s power supply.
- A nuclear plant in Vardø would enhance local industry, create jobs, and assert Norway’s sovereignty, with the report highlighting favorable local conditions for construction and operation.
Electricity in Finnmark is currently generated through hydro plants and wind turbines. During periods of low wind, Finnmark relies on electricity imports from other regions of Norway and from Finland. With nuclear power plants, it would provide a consistent supply of electricity regardless of weather conditions, significantly enhancing the reliability of the power grid across northern Scandinavia and helping meet the predicted increase in power demand.
As of April 2023, Norway has been seeking to implement SMR’s into its energy supply. The municipality of Vardø in Finnmark suggested the nearby small village and port, Svartnes, as a potential site for a nuclear power plant to Norsk Kjernekraft. Vardø municipality and Norsk Kjernekraft entered into an agreement in June 2023 to prepare a report outlining proposals for a study program.
After Norsk Kjernekraft has assessed the energy situation in Finnmark and evaluated the local conditions at Svartnes, a nuclear power plant with a capacity of up to 600 MWe and an annual output of up to 5 TWh has been proposed. It is “enough to triple the power supply in Finnmark,” Norsk Kjernekraft suggested.
“The purpose of this notice is to inform the relevant authorities and other stakeholders that the construction of a nuclear power plant in Vardø is considered, and to invite other municipalities to report their interest in investigating alternative locations in their municipalities,” Norsk Kjernekraft said.
The report submitted to the Ministry of Energy includes the description of the local conditions for constructing and operating a nuclear power plant with a future impact assessment. With the available information, it shows that Svartnes is suitable for nuclear power plants
According to the report, Vardø is described as an urban community offering “a good public service offer and verified working life,” making it feasible to attract a large workforce required for both the construction and operation of the plant. Along with this advantage Vardø has existing power lines and a substation, as well as well-developed road networks, ports, large available land suitable for both the power plant and power-intensive industries, ample access to cooling water, stable ground conditions, and local governmental support for nuclear energy. Additionally, it highlights that a nuclear power facility located in the far eastern region of the country would emphasize Norway’s commitment to asserting sovereignty.
The company has the intention to utilize a significant portion of the excess heat from the plant “as an input factor for industrial companies, food production, district heating and others.” It emphasized that the power plant could facilitate the development of local industries, including data centers, hydrogen production, mineral extraction, green shipping, and food production. The CEO of Norsk Kjernekraft, Jonny Hesthammer, said the nuclear power plant in Vardø will provide Finnmark with access to large amounts of stable power, create hundreds of jobs, and illuminate homes in a strategically significant part of their country. This report will serve as a crucial component of the knowledge base for the government’s announced inquiry into nuclear power in Norway.”