A comparison of the economics of nuclear and solar power
Abstract
This paper compares the estimated capital costs per net power capacity for nuclear and for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plants ordered today for delivery in the mid-1980s. The estimate for nuclear plants takes into consideration the 24% annual increase in estimated costs since 1967, the historical factor of two of the actual cost over the estimated cost, and the low 56% average capacity factor for large nuclear plants, versus the planned for capacity factor of 80%. The estimate for OTEC plants starts from estimates made by industry using only state-of-the-art components and introducing anticipated improvements in the performance of heat-exchangers. The estimates obtained in this manner give about $3000/kW for nuclear and approximately $1000/kW for OTEC generating capacity with 80% capacity factor.
- Publication:
-
Sharing the Sun: Solar Technology in the Seventies, Volume 5
- Pub Date:
- 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976ssst....5..535Z
- Keywords:
-
- Cost Estimates;
- Economic Analysis;
- Nuclear Electric Power Generation;
- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion;
- Solar Sea Power Plants;
- Energy Conversion Efficiency;
- Energy Technology;
- Heat Exchangers;
- Insolation;
- Energy Production and Conversion