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Breeder reactor economics

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6476276· OSTI ID:6476276
This paper focuses on the comparative economics of fast breeder reactors versus light water reactors and develops an internally consistent set of financial techniques whereby a utility may determine and compare the costs of generating power with either system. The general methodology is used here to estimate the break-even capital costs for the breeder as a function of future uranium prices but is equally applicable to other reactor types. It is shown that by the time the breeder reactor (breeder) is commercially available, it is likely a utility would select a breeder even though its capital cost might be twice that of a light water reactor (LWR).
Research Organization:
General Electric Co., Sunnyvale, CA (USA). Fast Breeder Reactor Dept.; Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (USA); Commonwealth Edison Co., Chicago, IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AM03-76SF00893
OSTI ID:
6476276
Report Number(s):
DOE/SF/00893-T24; GE-003; ON: DE85018251
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English