Finland is making nuclear power and waste management a priority as the country seeks to transition to carbon-neutral energy production. The video profiles Finland’s strategy to expand nuclear power generation while also developing solutions for long-term nuclear waste storage.
Finland currently sources one-third of its electricity from nuclear and has invested heavily in new reactors coming online in the late 2020s. To be carbon neutral by 2035, nuclear will play a key role in replacing fossil fuels. Featured is the Olkiluoto 3 reactor, already over a decade late and billions over budget, but a critical part of Finland’s nuclear expansion.
Importantly, the video examines Finland’s approach to nuclear waste which will exist for 100,000 years. A deep geologic repository is being constructed at Onkalo, located on the Eurajoki site. At a depth of over 400 meters, the granite bedrock provides a stable environment to safely encase waste for generations. Quotes from facility director Jari Koskinen express confidence that Onkalo can isolate waste from humans and the biosphere.
With climate change an urgent issue, Finland sees nuclear as a practical carbon-free option while also taking responsibility for long-term waste storage. If Onkalo proves successful, it could serve as a model for other nations seeking carbon-neutral energy with a solution for nuclear waste.
Photo by Frédéric Paulussen
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