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At the recommendation of Minister Van der Hoeven of Economic Affairs and Minister Huizinga of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM), the Cabinet has agreed to submit detailed nuclear energy scenarios to the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament. This comes in response to the Ministers' commitments in the 2008 energy report (Energierapport 2008). The letter to Parliament is policy neutral and does not include any policy decisions. It concerns the following scenarios:
1a. No new nuclear power stations. In this scenario, no action is taken to build a new nuclear power station in the Netherlands in the short to medium term. The nuclear power station in Borssele is closed by 2033 at the latest.
1b. No new nuclear power stations unless inherently safe. An inherently safe nuclear power station is not expected to be on the market before 2030 and will therefore not be operational in the Netherlands before 2040.
2: Replace the nuclear power station in Borselle in 2033, when Borselle will reach the end of its lifespan, both technologically and economically speaking.
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3. More nuclear power stations after 2020 (in addition to the replacement for Borselle). In this scenario one or more nuclear power stations are built in the Netherlands starting in 2020.
At the recommendation of Minister Van der Hoeven of Economic Affairs and Minister Huizinga of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM), the Cabinet has agreed to submit detailed nuclear energy scenarios to the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament. This comes in response to the Ministers' commitments in the 2008 energy report (Energierapport 2008). The letter to Parliament is policy neutral and does not include any policy decisions. It concerns the following scenarios:
1a. No new nuclear power stations. In this scenario, no action is taken to build a new nuclear power station in the Netherlands in the short to medium term. The nuclear power station in Borssele is closed by 2033 at the latest.
1b. No new nuclear power stations unless inherently safe. An inherently safe nuclear power station is not expected to be on the market before 2030 and will therefore not be operational in the Netherlands before 2040.
2: Replace the nuclear power station in Borselle in 2033, when Borselle will reach the end of its lifespan, both technologically and economically speaking.
3. More nuclear power stations after 2020 (in addition to the replacement for Borselle). In this scenario one or more nuclear power stations are built in the Netherlands starting in 2020.
The letter's key points
The next cabinet will have the responsibility of deciding on the role of nuclear energy in the energy mix. The scenarios offer a foundation for the decisions to be taken and also take into consideration the corresponding conditions for transparency and consistency. Public interests will play a central role in the decision-making process regarding the role of nuclear energy in the energy mix. The government will determine the political and technological conditions and the applicable rules and regulations. It will be up to businesses to decide whether they wish to invest in a new power station. In light of this, the Letter to Parliament covers two central issues:
1. Points of consideration for the political decision-making process regarding nuclear energy, such as social support, an affordable, reliable and clean energy supply, safety and nuclear radiation and the international context, industry and economy.
2. Possible conditions, under which the various nuclear energy scenarios could be realised following the decision-making process of the next Cabinet, including how to approach the final disposal of radioactive waste, social support, safety measures for nuclear power plants, and the climate for investment.
Source: VROM
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