Economics of nuclear power: past record, present trends, and future prospects

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5226612

Phung, D L

This paper examines the economic record of operating US reactors, factors affecting the economics of nuclear plants under construction, and opportunities for nuclear energy to escape from the predicament it faces today. The records of the 80 operating reactors indicate that they represent an indispensable asset, generating power at a lower cost than fossil-fueled alternatives. Yet many reactors under construction have suffered so much delay and cost escalation that they have become a financial burden to utilities and their customers. The technical, economic, and institutional reasons for this grotesque contrast between nuclear energy's potential and the problems it faces today are discussed. Changes necessary to improve the economics of nuclear power are also discussed. It is argued that the deployment of a meltproof reactor design, several of which are not under development, may solve the multifaceted problems of overregulation, long schedules, and financial risks.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76OR00033
• OSTI ID: 5226612
• Report Number(s): ORAU/IEA-83-13(M); ON: DE84009509
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
AVAILABILITY
CAPITAL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
CONTAINMENT
COST
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
ECONOMICS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
INFORMATION
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE
POWER
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
RETROFITTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS