Oskarshamn 3

Today, Oskarshamn 3, which we call O3, is the only reactor in Oskarshamn that is in operation. The decision to build a third reactor in Oskarshamn was made during a turbulent time in the history of nuclear power. Plans for the construction were already in place in 1973, when a so-called concession application was submitted to the Swedish Parliament. The procurement process went smoothly and in 1976 the order for a new reactor was placed with Asea-Atom/Stal-Laval. But by the end of the 1970s, opinions on nuclear power were divided and political uncertainty led to a referendum on nuclear power in 1980. Before the people had had their say, there was no point in starting construction, but after the referendum, the shovel could be put in the ground on the Simpevarp peninsula.

O3 is one of the world's largest boiling water reactors and provides an annual amount of energy equivalent to the annual consumption of half a million homes.

On March 3, 1985, Oskarshamn could finally be phased into the electricity grid for the first time, and in May of the same year, full power, which was then 1050 MW, was reached for the first time.

In 1989, it was time for the first power increase at O3, when the maximum power was raised to 1200 MW. And in 2012, the maximum power was increased again to today's 1,450 MW, making O3 the largest reactor in Sweden and one of the largest boiling water reactors in the world. In order to implement the final increase, a new main circulation system, new turbines, new generator and transformer were installed in 2009 and 2010. Increasing the output of a nuclear power plant is no small task.

Quick facts about O3

• Construction started: 1980
• Start of operation: 1985
• Maximum gross output: 1 450 MW
• Net maximum power: 1 400 MW
• Thermal capacity: 3 900 MW
• Best production year: 2021 with 11.44 TWh