Ecological and economic assessment of nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source

Abstract

The research has carried out a multi-criteria assessment of nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source. The peculiarity of the research lies in the comparative analysis of nuclear power with both renewable energy sources and sources using fossil fuels with carbon dioxide capture technologies. The assessment uses three criteria: specific carbon dioxide emission, specific value of material consumption in MInumbers, and electrical power costs value in LCOE/LEC. The criteria make it possible to characterize nuclear power in a holistic way while comparing it with other sources of low-carbon energy in terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions possibility, capital and operating costs for electrical power production, and minimizing overall negative impact on the transformation and violation of biosphere material and energy flows. The work reveals that the integrated ecological and economic efficiency of nuclear power is higher than that of gas and coal-fired power stations with carbon dioxide capture technologies, but it is lower than that of renewable energy sources. The reasons are the increased cost of nuclear power and its relatively high specific water consumption.