ESS Scandinavia

Lund in Europe ESS Scandinavia (ESSS) is the Swedish organisation charged by the government to work towards achieving the location and subsequent construction of the large materials science centre, the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund in southern Sweden. Following an intensive 18-month process, under the auspices of the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures, a siting decision was arrived at in favour of Lund on May 28th 2009 at a meeting of European Research Ministers in Brussels. The formalisation of this decision is now underway.

A European project

European Spallation Source is a joint European project, like that of many large-scale research facilities such as CERN in Geneva. The European countries that are interested in building and operating ESS are forming a coalition and entering into a formal agreement with one of the countries that has offered to be host. Consequently, ESS is not an EU project.

Licensing

The location of the ESS facility on the Lund site will be subject to a detailed development plan, which will be produced and adopted by the City of Lund in conjunction with ESS Scandinavia. The ESS facility will also require a permit under the Radiation Protection Act.

How much does ESS cost?

ESS Scandinavia has made detailed cost calculations as to how much it will cost to build ESS in Lund. In line with 2007/2008 prices, the combined cost of construction is estimated to be 1.47 billion euros, i.e. 14-15 billion Swedish kronor.

Timeline

In February 2007, the Swedish government declared that Sweden is offering to be host for the European Spallation Source. Since then, negotiations with other European countries have been in progress.

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