Competitive economics of nuclear and coal power

Book · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6776335

Hellman, R; Hellman, C J.C.

The authors analyze the competitive economics of nuclear and coal power plants newly ordered for initial commercial operation in 1985-95. The focus is on bottom-line costs and on identifying and analyzing the engineering and economic factors. Using the architect/engineer cost estimations of four best-case studies prepared by the AEC (1974), ERDA (1976), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1970), and Exxon (1977-79), the authors show that the total average lifetime busbar costs for coal are 22 to 50% cheaper than for nuclear. Further, they note that the results are conservative in favor of nuclear power because they probably underestimate capital costs and do not include federal subsidies. Nuclear power's cost disadvantages in the new study is attributable to a design/performance gap. 33 references, 61 tables.

• OSTI ID: 6776335
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210800* -- Nuclear Power Plants-- Economics
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPETITION
COST ESTIMATION
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR POWER
POWER