Capacity Of Nuclear Power Plants Research Articles

A study of the buying price of photovoltaic electricity under a carbon tax regime

AbstractAssuming that photovoltaic (PV) systems are adopted in residential houses under a carbon tax regime, the economic performance of PV systems is investigated from the standpoint of an electric utility. The economic performance is estimated by using the buying price of PV electricity and the PV economic index, which is defined as the ratio of the buying price to the generation cost of the electric utility. Because these values depend on electric power development and operation, the best mix and the operation of power plants are obtained by linear programming subject to restrictions on power generation. Then, the buying price of PV electricity is calculated from the total cost of the electric utility. The buying price means the upper limit at which the electric utility never suffers a loss. The buying price is also compared with the power generation cost. The parameters are the prevalence attainment ratio of PV systems (0 to 100%), the upper limit of newly developed nuclear power plants (0 to 4 GW/10 y), and the generated energy ratio of coal‐fired thermal plants (0 to 15%). Chubu Electric Power Company, Inc. is used as the electric utility. The calculation results show that the buying price of PV electricity increases linearly with increasing carbon tax rate, and its values are 9 and 11.5 yen/kWh when the carbon tax rate is 0 and 25 thousand yen/t‐C, respectively, which does not depend on the prevalence attainment ratio of PV systems and the upper limit of newly developed nuclear power plants. It is not the carbon tax rate but the newly developed nuclear power plant that influences the PV economic index. The values of the PV economic index are 1.35 to 1.45 and 1.50 to 1.60 when the newly developed nuclear power plant capacity is 0 and 4 GW/10 y, respectively. These results show that the economic performance of PV systems is increased by developing nuclear power plants at a certain rate and introducing a carbon tax. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 143(2): 38–49, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10067

The issue of the fourth nuclear power plant and its impact on 3-E problems in Taiwan—empirical evidence from the energy forecasting (EnFore) system

Taiwan has placed considerable emphasis on economic, energy and environmental (3-E) problems in recent decades. Following President Chen's inauguration, one particular issue of concern has been the current dispute over the fourth nuclear power plant (FNPP) in northern Taiwan. This dispute has had a serious impact on Taiwan's economy, including its energy structure and general policy towards CO 2 emission controls. It is estimated, for example, that the loss to Taiwan's capital market as a result of the FNPP dispute, reached NT$7 trillion (about US$219 billion) by the end of 2000. 1 1 Report from The Commercial Times, 1 January 2001. If Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) were to replace the nuclear power plant capacity with liquified natural gas generators, average utility prices would go up by around 4.6% over the next 10 years. The alternative would be for low-cost coal-fired power plants to assume the major position in future power generation; however, this could cause significant damage to Taiwan's CO 2 emission control policy. This paper uses an integrated computerized system model of energy forecasting to simulate the complex interrelationship between the various issues. Empirical results reveal that there are no perfect solutions available; thus, this is an important learning process for the government in terms of administration, as well as for other academic studies.

Federal Wholesale Market for Electricity and Power as a Factor Influencing the Utilization Factor of Nuclear Power Plants

It is shown, on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the changes over the last ten years in the demand for electricity and its actual production by producers differing by type and departmental affiliation, that the lack of demand for some of the capacity of nuclear power plants in Russia is largely due to the poor relations between regional joint stock power companies and the federal wholesale market for electric power and to the fact that the technological operator of the regional joint stock company EES Rossii does not adhere to the principle of minimizing the production cost of electricity, specifically within the FWMEP. 3 figures, 1 table.

Nuclear power in the Ukraine. Problems and prospects

Nuclear power production in the Ukraine started in 1977 with the startup of the first 1000-MW power-generating unit at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. During the period from 1977 to 1989 sixteen power-generating units with a total electric capacity of 14,880 MW were put into operation at five nuclear power plants: ten VVER-1000, two VVER-440, and four RBMK-1000. As a result of the accident in 1986 in the fourth power-generating unit and the fire in 1991 in the second power-generating unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, these units are no longer operating. Therefore the total installed nuclear power plant capacity is 12,880 MW. Moreover, the construction of three more power-generating units with VVER-1000 reactors is almost completed at three nuclear power plants - Zaporozh`e, Roven, and Khmel`nitsk. These units are not in operation because of the moratorium announced by the Supreme Council of Ukraine. In connection with the Council`s decision, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant should have been shut down in 1993.

Safety Aspects of Nuclear Power Plants-A Utility Consultant's View

Projections of installed nuclear power plant capacity are provided as a background forthe scope of activities with which utilities will be concerned for safety purposes. A description of the types of safety analyses is presented as well as the assumptions basic to such analyses. Finally, the "layers of conservatism" in present methods of analysis are illustrated and suggestions made toattach quantitative values to these layers.

Nuclear power today and tomorrow

U.S. nuclear power plant capacity is now 1.2 GWe. By year 2000, 45 per cent of electric power will be nuclear. Great expansion is also anticipated in ship propulsion, space, and desalting of sea water In less than 25 years, the nuclear chain reaction has progressed from the laboratory to the bomb to extravagant hopes for peaceful utilization, and to disillusionment when the hopes were not quickly realized. We now arrive at today's position in which nuclear power is the preferred power source in many situations and enjoys excellent prospects for expanded utilization in the future. For electric power generation, nuclear power is already economically competitive in certain wide areas of the world and may soon become a necessity in conserving natural resources and limiting air pollution. Below water and in outer space, nuclear power is the means of performing missions otherwise impossible. These examples highlight the truly remarkable progress that has been made in taming the atom.