Flevoland rejects proposal for small modular nuclear reactor

The Flevoland provincial government has reaffirmed its position that the province is not a logical location for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR). This decision follows research conducted earlier this year by the province.

Despite the provincial stance, grid operator TenneT included Lelystad in a technical scenario analysis involving six potential SMR locations across the Netherlands as an alternative to building two large-scale nuclear power plants. While the VVD party in the province expressed interest in exploring a 'mini-nuclear plant' in Lelystad, the provincial executive maintains its opposition.

Key reasons cited for rejecting Flevoland as a site include soil conditions, issues regarding cooling water, and the absence of large-scale industrial clusters. Other locations under consideration in the national energy study include Eemshaven, Terneuzen, and various sites in Zeeland, though political and grid capacity challenges remain for those areas as well.