Energy: the Swiss energy mountain

An energy supply and demand scheme proposed by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute for Reactor Research is described. An underground nuclear energy park using high-temperature gas cooled reactors and liquid metal-cooled or gas-cooled fast breeder reactors is proposed. The proposed site is in the Giuv-Syenite ridge located in the Eastern Aare-Gorrhard granite formation. The excavated (425 million tons) granite will provide an estimated 34,000 tons of uranium and thorium, enough to provide nuclear fuel for twelve centuries of operation at the stabilized energy-consumption level for the year 2050.