Chapter 20 - A Cost/Benefit Perspective of Extended Unit Service as a Decommissioning Alternative

摘要: Some people consider life extension (and its cousin, license renewal) an alternative to decommissioning. The reasons for the popularity of such alternatives include presumed cost effectiveness, retention scarce power plant sites, and continued ability pass on waste storage expenses as a service. In this chapter, James Hewlett addresses nuclear extension- -which he calls NUPLEX--in economic garb, starting with look at common utility presumption that will allow it produce electricity lower rate than new coal generation. This presumption, argues, may not be supportable by analysis. He concludes deferral constructing replacement capacity would result in savings only if both level escalation operating costs refurbished unit fall substantially from 1986 levels. Therefore, is unclear whether construction savings, although definitely shifts financial burden into future.