The Netherlands wants to build two new nuclear power plants in Borreli, close to the Belgian border

Since the construction of the first nuclear power plants in the 1950s and 1960s, nuclear power plants around the world have undergone a transformation. That is why we are talking about different generations of nuclear power plants. The vast majority of power plants in operation today are of the second generation, built in the 1970s and 1980s.

Generation III reactors are safer than their predecessors and are designed to last longer. They would also use less fuel, leaving less nuclear waste. Meanwhile, designs for fourth-generation power plants have already been worked out.

success in China

The Dutch government stated in a press release that “the first generation of Generation III reactors have now been commissioned in other countries. As a result, there is extensive international practical experience in planning and financing this technology.” In fact, Generation III reactors have already been built or are under construction in many countries, such as China, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. In China, there are already running.

But not in Europe

But in Europe, its construction is not going smoothly. Various problems arose both in France and in Finland, which caused significant delays in construction and cost several billion more than planned. The power plant in France was supposed to operate for 10 years, but it is not over yet.

So the question is whether the Netherlands will succeed in building two third-generation plants within ten years (the decision will not be made until the end of 2024 and the power plants will be operational in 2035). “It’s definitely realistic,” says Luc Pauwels, energy expert at VRT NWS. “In China, this power plant was built in 7 years.” He points out that there are different models within the third generation reactors and it seems that the Netherlands will choose a different model than France and Finland.

France and Finland have already become “enterprise dragons”, says Powles, “because of the growing pains, but also because of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which has tightened the safety rules”. “But there are definitely successful projects.”