The Economic Potential of Future Nuclear Build

This is my MSc dissertation, written for ‘The Physics and Technology of Nuclear Reactors‘ course in September 2005.

It gives an economic analysis of the next generation nuclear reactors that were at the time under consideration for construction in the UK.  These same designs are still under consideration six years after I wrote it, such is the fast pace of energy politics..

Capital cost estimates are made for current Generation II reactors, plus the AP-1000 and ACR-700 designs from Generation III.  The cost of electricity from each design is estimated, and compared to traditional fossil generators.   The commercial potential of each reactor type is discussed in the context of the UK electricity market of 2005/06.

The full report also considers the operation of an electrolysis plant, suitable for refuelling hydrogen vehicles as a petrol pump replacement.  The capital cost of a refuelling plant is estimated with varied storage and electrolyser capacity.  The optimal capacity is considered with strategic purchase of electricity on the spot market to minimise operating costs.  The optimal capacity and potential profit is calculated under 2005/06 market conditions, and under two future scenarios, with heavy fossil fuel dependance and increased nuclear capacity.

• Download the analysis of nuclear reactor costs - which contains chapters 1, 2, 6 and 8 of the full report. (42 pages)
• Download the full analysis of nuclear reactor and hydrogen electrolyser costs - all chapters. (90 pages)