How much would a new nuclear power plant in Switzerland cost?

According to the report of the Swiss Academies of Sciences, the estimated costs range between 14 and 43 billion francs. The shear depends on the size of the reactor chosen (Westinghouse 1'250 MW or EDF 1'630 MW) and on the realization of an optimistic or pessimistic scenario. The pessimistic scenario, which foresees constructive delays, is judged more realistic by the report on the basis of recent international projects.

Who would pay for the construction of a new nuclear power plant?

The report concludes that Swiss electricity companies (Axpo, BKW) could not directly finance a power plant for the huge financial risks (very high initial investments, multi-year construction times without revenue, uncertain energy prices). 'Significant state support' will be required. Moreover, since these operators are already public or partially public, the public sector would still be indirectly involved.

When should Switzerland make a decision?

Relatively soon. According to the report, the tender should be called in the early 1930s if you want the plant to supply power in the early 1950s. Before this technical step, however, a political decision of principle is needed, and voters will vote on it in the February 2026 referendum.

What reactors and builders are available for Switzerland?

If an investment decision is made by the mid-1930s, the choice is likely to fall on large third-generation reactors. The builders are EDF/Framatome (France) and Westinghouse (United States). Chinese (CNG, CNNC) and Russian (Rosatom) groups are excluded for geopolitical reasons. South Korea's KEPCO/KHNP has a legal dispute with Westinghouse blocking its access to the European market.

Could Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) solve the cost problem?

No, according to the report. For SMRs there is no concrete empirical data on construction times and actual costs. Outside of China and Russia the technology is still under development. An important NuScale project was abandoned before the start of work due to large increases in expected costs. SMRs therefore do not offer a solid economic database for a Swiss decision in the short term.

New nuclear plant: CHF 14 billion to CHF 43 billion (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 20 August 2026

Overhead view of Swiss nuclear power plant with cooling towers and Alpine landscape

A report by the Swiss Academies estimates costs between CHF 14 billion and CHF 43 billion. Necessary state support for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Switzerland.

Context

In a nutshell

New nuclear power plant would cost 14-43 billion francs according to the Swiss Academies of Sciences
The scissors depend on two scenarios: optimistic (lower costs) and pessimistic (construction delays)
Financing without state support very unlikely
Call for tenders should be launched in the early 1930s

Key facts

What: report on the costs of a new nuclear power plant in Switzerland
Who: Swiss Academies of Sciences
Estimated costs: 14-43 billion francs
Base unit cost: CHF 11,500-12,000 per kilowatt (kW)
Reactors considered: Westinghouse (1'250 megawatts) and EDF (1'630 megawatts)
Call timeline: early 1930s
Energy supply: expected in the early 1950s

The Swiss Academies Report

The Swiss Academies of Sciences have published a report estimating the costs of building a new nuclear power plant in Switzerland. The figure is surprisingly large: between 14 and 43 billion francs. How was it possible to reach such a wide range? The researchers examined two models of reactors of different sizes, calculating how costs could evolve under different conditions.

The starting costs used by the researchers are based on the current offers for large reactors, which are around 11,500 and 12,000 francs per kilowatt of power. From this basis, the scientists worked out two distinct scenarios.

In the optimistic scenario, the ratio

Operational details

Private sector financial capabilities

A crucial question naturally arises: could the Swiss private sector, represented by companies such as Axpo and BKW, directly finance such a venture? According to the report, the answer is very unlikely. The researchers believe that the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Switzerland will require considerable state support.

Specific financial risks are hardly sustainable by private actors alone. These include: extremely high initial investments (tens of billions), multi-year construction times without revenue, and uncertain electricity prices in the long amortization phase (which can last decades). In fact, international experiences show that in recent years it has only been possible to find private investors if the State has strongly mitigated the risks.

An additional element further complicates the Swiss framework: since potential managers such as Axpo and BKW are wholly or partially owned by the Cantons, in an investment of this caliber the public sector would still be indirectly involved and would help to bear the financial risks. In other words, even a 'private' solution would not really be: the cantonal public sector would remain a de facto co-investor.

Implications for the Swiss economy

These astronomical costs have repercussions on federal and cantonal policy. An investment decision of this

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Key points

Critical Decision Timeline

According to the report, the tender should be issued as early as the early 1930s if the goal is to provide electricity by the early 1950s. This means that the time window for a political decision is very narrow. A large nuclear power plant construction cycle typically takes 10-15 years, sometimes more with the delays seen in international projects. There are no wide margins for improvisation.

The fundamental assumption is a political decision of principle. Today this is still pending: the February 2026 referendum represents the first step of a democratic consultation on a strategic issue for Switzerland.

Potential Contractors

In the event of an investment decision by the mid-2030s, the choice will presumably fall mainly on large third-generation water-cooled reactors (III/III+). Currently, only EDF/Framatome (France) and Westinghouse (United States) are in the running as contractors for Switzerland. Although they are currently building the most reactors worldwide, Chinese state groups (CNG, CNNC) and Russian (Rosatom) are excluded from Europe and Switzerland for geopolitical reasons. The South Korean KEPCO/KHNP, which certainly has experience, cannot currently offer its reactors in Europe independently due to a legal dispute with Westinghouse.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much would a new nuclear power plant in Switzerland cost?: According to the report of the Swiss Academies of Sciences, the estimated costs range between 14 and 43 billion francs. The shear depends on the size of the reactor chosen (Westinghouse 1'250 MW or EDF 1'630 MW) and on the realization of an optimistic or pessimistic scenario. The pessimistic scenario, which foresees constructive delays, is judged more realistic by the report on the basis of recent international projects.
Who would pay for the construction of a new nuclear power plant?: The report concludes that Swiss electricity companies (Axpo, BKW) could not directly finance a power plant for the huge financial risks (very high initial investments, multi-year construction times without revenue, uncertain energy prices). 'Significant state support' will be required. Moreover, since these operators are already public or partially public, the public sector would still be indirectly involved.
When should Switzerland make a decision?: Relatively soon. According to the report, the tender should be called in the early 1930s if you want the plant to supply power in the early 1950s. Before this technical step, however, a political decision of principle is needed, and voters will vote on it in the February 2026 referendum.
What reactors and builders are available for Switzerland?: If an investment decision is made by the mid-1930s, the choice is likely to fall on large third-generation reactors. The builders are EDF/Framatome (France) and Westinghouse (United States). Chinese (CNG, CNNC) and Russian (Rosatom) groups are excluded for geopolitical reasons. South Korea's KEPCO/KHNP has a legal dispute with Westinghouse blocking its access to the European market.
Could Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) solve the cost problem?: No, according to the report. For SMRs there is no concrete empirical data on construction times and actual costs. Outside of China and Russia the technology is still under development. An important NuScale project was abandoned before the start of work due to large increases in expected costs. SMRs therefore do not offer a solid economic database for a Swiss decision in the short term.