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Publication Laka-library:
Reduction of capital costs of nuclear power plants (2000)

Author	NEA
Date	2000
Classification	6.01.0.10/62 (COSTS)
Front

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The short-term prospect of nuclear power in the OECD countries is stagnant. 
However, an economic, environmentally benign, and publicly acceptable option 
such as nuclear power must be available in the near future, if commitments by 
many countries of the world for climate change mitigation and to a sustainable 
future development path is to be materialised. In order to keep nuclear power as 
a viable alternative in the future energy market, it is important that nuclear power 
should be competitive with alternative energy sources.

Today's capital investment to construct a nuclear power plant is typically some 
60% of generation costs, with fuel costs at 20% and operation and maintenance 
(O&M) costs the remaining 20%. Since capital investment costs constitute the 
largest share of the generation cost, identification of the means and assessment 
of their potential to reduce the capital costs of nuclear plants would be useful 
for electric utilities to keep nuclear power competitive.

This study was undertaken under the auspices of the Nuclear Energy Agency's 
Committee for Technical and Economic Studies on Nuclear Energy Development 
and Fuel Cycle. The report represents a synthesis of experiences and views of 
experts from OECD countries, identifying the means that have been conceived and 
demonstrated for the reduction of nuclear power plant capital costs and assessing 
their potential to achieve the cost reduction goal.

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