Switzerland's Nuclear Shift: Upper House Opens Path to New Power Plants

The Swiss Council of States has voted in favor of lifting the existing ban on building new nuclear power plants, paving the way for a radical change in the country's energy strategy. The decision by the upper house of parliament, taken in March 2026, is a direct response to concerns about electricity supply security and the need to meet climate targets. Swiss Energy Minister Albert Rösti argued that the country cannot forgo any low-emission technology in the face of growing energy demand. The new approach involves enshrining in the federal constitution the obligation to ensure energy security at all times. Ständerat has thus initiated a legislative process that could lead to the repeal of regulations adopted after the Fukushima disaster.

Parallelly, a political dispute is growing in Germany over a return to nuclear energy, where CSU Secretary General Martin Huber called for the construction of small modular reactors. SMR technology is seen by Bavarian politicians as an opportunity for innovative and stable energy, which contradicts the policy of the previous government. Martin Huber publicly opposed claims by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz that the phase-out of nuclear power was irreversible. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also weighed in on the debate, assessing earlier decisions to abandon this form of energy in geopolitical terms. „Der Ausstieg aus der Kernenergie war ein strategischer Fehler” (The phase-out from nuclear energy was a strategic mistake) — Ursula von der Leyen via Reuters

The situation in Germany is complicated due to differing opinions within the current governing coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. While the CSU demands an investment offensive in the nuclear sector, Chancellor Friedrich Merz is more restrained, leading to tensions on the CDU-CSU line. This debate takes place against the backdrop of the planned 2039 shutdown of the Swiss Gösgen nuclear power plant, whose operational life may now be extended. Switzerland decided to gradually phase out nuclear energy in 2017 when citizens voted in a referendum in favor of the Energy Strategy 2050. This decision was a consequence of the 2011 disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant, which triggered a wave of nuclear phase-outs across Europe, including the most radical Atomausstieg in Germany. Currently, due to the energy crisis and rising gas prices, many countries are revising these assumptions, recognizing nuclear power as an essential element of the energy mix.

Despite the political impetus for change, Swiss society remains divided on the construction of new units, as confirmed by recent public opinion polls. According to surveys conducted in early March 2026, a slim majority of citizens still favor maintaining the ban on building new reactors. The federal government faces the challenge of convincing voters of a new vision, which assumes that only nuclear power can guarantee energy independence during winter periods. Evolution of Nuclear Policy in Switzerland: March 11, 2011 — Fukushima Disaster; May 21, 2017 — Energy Referendum; March 7, 2026 — Opinion Poll; March 13, 2026 — Council of States Vote