Swiss Report Finds 80-Year Operation of Gösgen and Leibstadt NPPs Feasible
A new report adopted by the Swiss Federal Council concludes that operating the Gösgen (KKG) and Leibstadt (KKL) Nuclear Power Plants (both ENS Corporate Members) for up to 80 years would be technically feasible and, in most cases, economically viable.
Prepared in response to a Senate request, the report examines the conditions required for extended operation, including technical upgrades, investment needs and energy policy considerations. It follows a 2024 assessment by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, which had already confirmed the feasibility of operating nuclear plants for up to 60 years.
According to the Federal Council, the additional investments required for Gösgen and Leibstadt would amount to between CHF 700 million and CHF 1.2 billion, (approximately €766 million to €1.3 billion). Under realistic assumptions for electricity prices and costs, these investments could be recovered without requiring state financial support.
The report also underlines that long-term operation (LTO) could help address potential winter electricity shortages, provided operators implement the necessary refurbishments and safety upgrades.
At the same time, it identifies the main risks not as technical constraints, but as political and regulatory uncertainties, stressing the importance of a stable and predictable framework.
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Switzerland currently operates four nuclear reactors at three sites: Beznau 1 and 2, Gösgen and Leibstadt.
Although Swiss voters approved the Energy Strategy 2050 in a 2017 referendum, confirming a gradual nuclear phase-out and a ban on new construction, the Federal Council announced in 2024 that it would seek to lift this restriction, recognising the role of nuclear energy in meeting climate targets, addressing rising electricity demand and responding to geopolitical uncertainties. A parliamentary decision is expected by August 2026.
In this context, public support has also evolved in recent years. A 2023 Demoscope poll found that 54% of respondents supported the continued use of nuclear energy alongside renewables.
The Federal Council’s report is also in line with the recent ENS High Scientific Council Position Paper “On the Importance of Extending the Operation of the Existing European Nuclear Fleet”, which emphasises LTO as a strategic component of Europe’s energy system, supporting energy security, system resilience, economic competitiveness and broader societal objectives.
