Denmark is weighing the use of small modular nuclear reactors to bolster its power supply, a move that would require lifting the country’s 1985 ban on nuclear energy, the Climate and Energy Ministry said. A government framework to examine the “potentials and risks” of new nuclear technologies—and to study ending the moratorium—is now in place, the ministry added.
“Green energy from solar and wind is now and will continue to be the backbone of the Danish energy supply, but we can also see that it cannot stand alone,” Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Lars Aagaard said in a statement. “We must be open to examining whether other technologies can provide us with green energy in the future.”
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The government said it is seeking further detail on regulatory processes, safety questions, handling of radioactive waste, workforce competencies and costs before taking a political decision on whether to proceed. The ministry did not signal a timeline for a final decision.
The potential pivot to nuclear would mark a significant shift for Denmark, which for decades has relied on a rapid build-out of renewables and a statutory prohibition on nuclear power. Parliament, which voted in 1985 to exclude nuclear generation from the energy mix, agreed early last year to begin reviewing new nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, as a possible source of low-carbon power.
Small modular reactors, or SMRs, are advanced nuclear units with generating capacity of up to 300 megawatts of electricity per module, roughly a third the output of a conventional reactor. They are designed to be relatively simple to build, which can lower upfront costs and shorten construction times compared with large-scale nuclear plants.
Denmark’s power system is already anchored by wind and other renewables. According to 2024 data from the International Energy Agency, wind accounts for 58% of the country’s electricity production, biofuels 18%, solar 11%, and waste and coal 5% each. Officials have stressed that wind and solar will remain central to the system even as new options are assessed.
The ministry’s examination will focus not only on the technical readiness of SMRs, but also on the institutional and regulatory underpinnings required for any nuclear deployment. That includes safety oversight, waste management pathways and whether Denmark has, or can develop, the specialized expertise needed to build and operate reactors safely over the long term.
While the framework sets the stage for a formal review of nuclear’s role, the government emphasized that no decision has been made to pursue construction. The evaluation is intended to clarify whether SMRs could complement Denmark’s renewable-heavy grid with additional firm, low-emission power, and under what conditions such a step would be feasible.
If the assessment ultimately supports lifting the moratorium, lawmakers would still need to vote through changes to longstanding policy. For now, the government says its priority is a fact-based appraisal of costs and risks alongside potential benefits to energy security and climate goals.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
