Economic features of integral, modular, small-to-medium size reactors

Carelli, Mario D.; Garrone, Paola; Locatelli, Giorgio; Mancini, Mauro; Mycoff, Clark W.; Trucco, Paolo; Ricotti, Marco Enrico

doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2009.09.003

Cited by 155 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…This also positively affects the safety of the plant via a reduction of the number of safety systems and a simplification of those remaining." Regarding learning, there are two key aspects [23]. standardized components and their assembly and maintenance within the plant site, with a reduction of investment and operating costs.…”

Section: Economy Of Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

Small modular reactors: A comprehensive overview of their economics and strategic aspects

Locatelli

Bingham

Mancini

2014

Progress in Nuclear Energy

181

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A key challenge for engineers and scientists over the coming decades is to develop and deploy power plants with sufficient capacity and flexibility to meet the growing demand for energy (mainly electrical) whilst simultaneously reducing emissions (primarily greenhouse gases). With fusion-based power plants not currently being considered viable for large-scale deployment for at least 40 years, other technologies must to be considered. Renewable and high efficiency combined gas-fired plants, along with nuclear solutions, are regarded as the most suitable candidates, with Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) developing as a favoured choice. However, two main impediments to the current deployment of SMRs exist: (1) safety concerns, particularly following the Fukushima accident, and (2) their economic models, with high capital costs only being available through a limited number of investors. The goal of this paper is to provide a review and a holistic assessment of this class of nuclear reactor, with specific focus on the most common technology: the Light Water Reactor (LWR). In particular, the paper provides a state-of-the-art assessment of their life cycle, along with a comparison of their relative merits with other base-load technologies. It is shown that SMRs are a suitable choice when the power to be installed is in the range 1-3 GWe and the social aspects of the investment, such as the creation of new employment positions, is a goal of policy makers. The paper thereby provides governments and stakeholders with key economic and social boundaries for the viable deployment of SMRs.

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Section: Economy Of Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

Small modular reactors: A comprehensive overview of their economics and strategic aspects

Locatelli

Bingham

Mancini

2014

Progress in Nuclear Energy

181

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“…These small reactors are believed to fill a gap in the energy market as they may be constructed in a short time, can work on less developed energy grids and do not require the considerable upfront capital costs associated with currently operated large NPPs (nuclear power plants) that make purchasing them economically challenging for most countries [103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116]. Small modular reactors caused a similar euphoria in the 1960s and again in the 1980s that did not materialize due to the smaller reactors overall less favorable economic performance when compared to large (>1000 MWe) nuclear power plants (NPPs) [117,118] or other energy generating technology.…”

Section: Identified Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Sustainability and Progress of Energy Neutral Mineral Processing

et al. 2018

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A number of primary ores such as phosphate rock, gold-, copper-and rare earth ores contain considerable amounts of accompanying uranium and other critical materials. Energy neutral mineral processing is the extraction of unconventional uranium during primary ore processing to use it, after enrichment and fuel production, to generate greenhouse gas lean energy in a nuclear reactor. Energy neutrality is reached if the energy produced from the extracted uranium is equal to or larger than the energy required for primary ore processing, uranium extraction, -conversion, -enrichment and -fuel production. This work discusses the sustainability of energy neutral mineral processing and provides an overview of the current progress of a multinational research project on that topic conducted under the umbrella of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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“…They discuss challenges posed by the GFR when striving for the achievement of balance among the Generation IV goals. According to Carelli et al [51], the nuclear option has to face not only the public opinion sensibility, mainly related to plant safety and waste disposal issues, but also the economic evaluation from investors and utilities, particularly careful on that energy source and in deregulated markets. Smaller size nuclear reactors can represent a viable solution especially for developing countries, or countries with not-highly-infrastructured and interconnected grids, or even for developed countries when limitation on capital at risk applies.…”

Section: Generation Iv: Economical Aspects [6]mentioning

confidence: 99%