Investment In Nuclear Power Research Articles

Energy analysis of a power generating system

The application of energy analysis to nuclear power has provoked considerable controversy about both methodology and conclusions. This paper looks at the results of a UKAEA developed computer programme applied to a variety of nuclear scenarios. It concludes that energy analysis can add to understanding of energy problems but that the results can be misleading if applied to a single resource like fossil fuel. Any meaningful investment in nuclear power is not likely to repay its investment energy for at least four years after the first station is commissioned.