Beznau nuclear power plant: Revision of unit 2

04.08.2025 - On 1 August 2025, Axpo shut down unit 2 of the Beznau nuclear power plant (KKB) as planned to carry out an approximately eight-week revision.

Currently, extensive maintenance work and inspections are underway in unit 2. The focus is on examinations of the reactor pressure vessel as well as major components in the secondary circuit.

Since the start of the current operational cycle on 19 August 2024, unit 2 has produced about 3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity — equivalent to the average annual consumption of approximately 650,000 four-person households.

During the shutdown of KKB, steam may be visible above the machine house (the non-nuclear part). This steam is harmless and poses no risk to people or the environment. The revision is supervised by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI).

The KKB reliably and safely generates around 6 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, covering about one-tenth of Switzerland’s electricity demand. Each of the two plant blocks is taken offline in spring or summer for fuel element replacement or revision. Afterward, they resume operation for about a year, especially contributing during the winter months to Switzerland’s energy security.