Cost comparison between base-load coal-fired and nuclear plants in the midterm future (1985--2015)

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5340539· OSTI ID:5340539

Phung, D. L.

The purpose of this study is to examine the relative costs of the coal and nuclear modes of electricity generation in the period between 1985 and 2015. These two modes of power generation are likely to be the mainstay source of electric power in the United States for that time period. A thorough understanding of their competitiveness not only is important in utility companies' decisions to go one route or the other but also is important to the government and the public when answers must be found for difficult questions, such as economic and environmental implications of a massive societal leaning toward one or the other option. In this study, the primary and secondary factors that affect the cost comparison of coal-fired and nuclear plant options for the midterm future have been separated and arranged so that they can be examined systematically. Estimated inflation of the economy and net fuel cost increases are internalized in the determination of life-cycle levelized cost of electricity in several plausible scenarios. Baseline data for capital and operating costs at beginning-of-life are determined by the tax rate, the expected rate of inflation at the time of capitalization, the net rate of fuel cost increases, and future eventualities of inflation. Other factors such as plant life spans, capacity factors, changes in baseline capital, and fuel cost are considered in sensitivity studies.

• Research Organization: Institute for Energy Analysis, Oak Ridge, Tenn. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-05-0033
• OSTI ID: 5340539
• Report Number(s): ORAU/IEA(M)-76-3; TRN: 78-001485
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ECONOMICS
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COST
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