Sweden's parliament passed a bill on Thursday to overturn a 30-year-old ban on new nuclear reactors after a debate that pitted the need for low-carbon energy sources against environmental concerns over atomic power.

The law will allow the construction of new reactors at existing plants to replace the 10 ageing reactors that still produce roughly 40 percent of the Nordic country's electricity.

The vote was passed with a majority of two in Sweden's parliament.

Reuters