Legitimizing small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden; : an analysis of media coverage 2020-2024

The potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is currently explored in the world. SMRs as technology is still under development but is introduced to the public. In this stage, when much is still uncertain and unknown, media is important. The benefits and risks related to this new technology articulated in media potentially shape different actors' expectations and attitudes towards the technology. The focus of this study is the introduction of SMRs in news media in Sweden. The Swedish government has changed the nuclear energy policy from decommissioning to revival with more nuclear power including SMRs until 2034. This study is focused on risks and benefits reported in media, actors participating in shaping the image of SMRs and how they legitimize SMRs in a Swedish context. To this end a corpus analysis of the reporting on Swedish national press of SMRs from 2020 to 2024 is conducted and a qualitative text analysis of selected news articles. Legitimation analysis is used for problematizing positions of the actors, explicit and implicit perspectives and embeddedness using the concepts of rationalization, authorization, moral evaluation and mythopoesis (narratives used for legitimation) (van Leeuwen 2008). The analysis shows an increased reporting focusing on benefits rather than risks of SMRs. The reporting is characterized by fuzziness, both in varying terminology and embedding SMRs in various contexts which makes it difficult to understand what SMR is. The qualitative analysis contributes with an understanding of different actors' perspectives on SMR, such as which characteristics are emphasized, how risks and benefits are discussed, how promises are made, which values are considered important and how they relate to and create their position in relation to other actors. Conflicting expectations and values are identified.