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1 April 2010
| New OECD study on electric competitivenessThe 2010 edition of Projected Costs of Generating Electricity has been published, and shows nuclear power as being very competitive at $30 per tonne CO2 cost, despite the well-publicised increases in plant costs. However, at 10% discount rate the advantage moves to coal and gas in some EU countries but not in USA or East Asia. Renewables are more expensive in most scenarios, except for wind in USA. This is the latest in a series from the International Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Agency of OECD, the previous one being in 2005. It brings together data for 190 power plants from 17 OECD countries as well as some from Brazil, China, Russia and South Africa on the costs of electricity generation for a wide variety of fuels and technologies, including coal (with and without carbon capture), natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar. The analysis was closely overseen by an international expert group on generating costs. The head of IEA commented: "To bolster competitiveness of low-carbon technologies such as nuclear, renewables and CCS, we need strong government action to lower the cost of financing and a significant CO2 price signal to be internalised in power markets." WNN 25/3/10, OECD report. Economics of Nuclear Power (update next week) Construction start on new Russian reactorIt is confirmed that Rostov unit 3 is fully under construction, resumed from 1983-86. This is a similar V-320 type as units 1 & 2 but with improved steam generators and capacity of 1100 MWe. It is due to start up at the end of 2013 and be commissioned in 2014. Nizhniy Novgorod Atomenergoproekt is principal contractor for both units 3 & 4, expected to cost RUR 146 billion (US$ 5 billion). Nuclear Power in Russia New Indian reactor starts operationUnit 6 of Rajasthan nuclear power plant has been grid connected. It is the last but one of the 220 MWe indigenous reactors. Four 700 MWe versions of the same type are due on line by 2017, and work on them has started. NPCIL 28/3/10. Nuclear Power in India Strong pushback on US waste programThe US Energy Secretary and Department of Energy have come under strong pressure to maintain some work on the Yucca Mountain waste repository rather than just close it down. The House energy and water appropriations committee has strongly criticized DOE's plans to shut down the project and keep it off the agenda of the new panel appointed to reconsider nuclear waste policies. The legality of DOE's plans to abolish the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM), which has long overseen the project, has been called into question, and a bipartisan group, including the chairman of the House budget committee, has introduced a resolution of disapproval to "compel the Department of Energy.to cease its efforts to pull the license application for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain." Also a group of state utility regulators has filed a motion with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to oppose the DOE move to abort the project and walk away from the investment of some $10 billion in utility customers' money to settle a political debt. Energy Daily, Reuters 25/3/10. US Nuclear Fuel Cycle Exelon defers reactor plan but seeks site approvalExelon has withdrawn its 2008 application for a construction and operating licence (COL) for a new 2700 MWe nuclear power plant in Victoria county, Texas, and has applied instead for an early site permit (ESP). It had announced this general intention in mid 2009, along with plans to uprate operating reactors. The ESP would reserve the site for nuclear construction for 20 years. WNN 26/3/10. Nuclear Power in the USA |
