Nuclear energy in the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
The Netherlands
' only commercial nuclear reactor
is Borssele
, which became operational in 1973 and produces about 4% of the country’s electricity. The older Dodewaard nuclear power plant
was a test reactor that later got attached to the national grid but was closed in 1997.
In 1994, the Netherlands' parliament voted to phase out nuclear power after a discussion of nuclear waste management. In 1997, the power station at Dodewaard
was shut down and the government decided it was planning to end Borssele
's operating license in 2003. But in 2003, with a new government
in power, the shutdown was postponed to 2013. In 2006 the government decided that Borssele would remain open until 2034, if it complied with the highest safety standards. The owners, Essent
and Delta, will invest 500 million euro in sustainable energy, together with the government—money which the government claims otherwise should have been paid to the plants' owners as compensation.
After the 2010 election
, the new government was open to expanding nuclear power. Both of the companies that share ownership of Borssele are proposing to build new reactors.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
' only commercial nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
is Borssele
Borssele nuclear power plant
The Borssele Nuclear Power Station is a nuclear power plant in the Dutch town of Borssele. It has a pressurised water reactor . Borssele is the only nuclear power plant still operational for electricity production in the Netherlands...
, which became operational in 1973 and produces about 4% of the country’s electricity. The older Dodewaard nuclear power plant
Dodewaard nuclear power plant
Dodewaard nuclear power plant was a nuclear power plant with a boiling water reactor in the Dutch town of Dodewaard. The plant halted energy production in 1997.-History:...
was a test reactor that later got attached to the national grid but was closed in 1997.
In 1994, the Netherlands' parliament voted to phase out nuclear power after a discussion of nuclear waste management. In 1997, the power station at Dodewaard
Dodewaard nuclear power plant
Dodewaard nuclear power plant was a nuclear power plant with a boiling water reactor in the Dutch town of Dodewaard. The plant halted energy production in 1997.-History:...
was shut down and the government decided it was planning to end Borssele
Borssele nuclear power plant
The Borssele Nuclear Power Station is a nuclear power plant in the Dutch town of Borssele. It has a pressurised water reactor . Borssele is the only nuclear power plant still operational for electricity production in the Netherlands...
's operating license in 2003. But in 2003, with a new government
Second Balkenende cabinet
The second cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands formed on 27 May 2003. It consisted of three political parties: People's Party for Freedom and Democracy , Christian Democratic Appeal , and Democrats 66 , which is the smallest of the three.On 29 June 2006, D66 dropped its support for...
in power, the shutdown was postponed to 2013. In 2006 the government decided that Borssele would remain open until 2034, if it complied with the highest safety standards. The owners, Essent
Essent
Essent NV, based in Arnhem, The Netherlands, is an energy company. It is a public limited liability corporation. Essent is one of the largest players on the energy market in its chief market the Netherlands, and also operates in Belgium...
and Delta, will invest 500 million euro in sustainable energy, together with the government—money which the government claims otherwise should have been paid to the plants' owners as compensation.
After the 2010 election
Dutch general election, 2010
The 2010 Dutch general election was held on Wednesday, 9 June 2010. After the fall of the cabinet Balkenende IV on 20 February, Queen Beatrix accepted the resignation of the Labour Party ministers on 23 February...
, the new government was open to expanding nuclear power. Both of the companies that share ownership of Borssele are proposing to build new reactors.