The Economics of the Back End of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
The feasibility and costs of spent nuclear fuel management and the consequent disposal
of ultimate waste continue to be the subject of public debate in many countries, with
particular concern often expressed over the lack of progress in implementing final
disposal. Uncertainties about back-end costs and the financial risks associated with
management of the back end have also been singled out as possible deterrents to investment
in new nuclear power plants.
This report offers an appraisal of economic issues and methodologies for the management
of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste from commercial power reactors. It includes
a review of different backend options and current policies and practices, with a focus
on the cost estimates for these options and the funding mechanisms in place or under
consideration in OECD/NEA countries. A generic economic assessment of high-level estimates
of back-end cost impacts on fuel cycle costs is undertaken for selected idealised
scenarios, by means of a simple static model. Sensitivity analyses are conducted for
the evaluation of uncertainties in major components and the identification of cost
drivers. Since factors other than economics are an important part of the decision-making
process, an analysis of the influence of key qualitative parameters in the selection
of back-end strategies is also presented in this report.
Published on January 07, 2014
In series:Nuclear Developmentview more titles