Introduction to the Advanced Fuel Cycle Cost Basis for Economic Analysis of Proposed Nuclear Fuel Cycles

摘要

"Level Playing Field" economic analysis of proposed nucjear fuel cycles requires the use of consistent and vetted unit cost values for the various fuel cycle steps along with the necessary material balance data. For the last eight years the USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy and Technology (NE) has funded the development of a Fuel Cycle Cost Basis Report and Data Base for use by fuel cycle analysts.This abstract describes a new document which updates the above-cited 2009 report for those fuel cycle steps and reactor types for which the economics has changed or that did not appear in the 2009 version. A comprehensive table at the beginning of the report lists the 30+ fuel cycle modules and the selected ranges for their unit costs. When combined with reactor characteristics and fuel cycle material balance information, the levelized unit cost of electricity (LCOE) can be calculated for candidate fuel cycles. This unit cost information for fuel cycle steps and reactor /transmuter systems will be used in the ongoing evaluation of fuel cycle options selected by DOE-NE for future research and development funding. The same data should also prove useful to nuclear industry and academic economic analysts and to non-proliferation policy analysts in the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).