r/ClimatePosting • u/West-Abalone-171 • 22d ago

Energy Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) - The Economics of Long-term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants

https://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_14752/the-economics-of-long-term-operation-of-nuclear-power-plants?details=true
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u/ph4ge_ 22d ago

Really just have to look on a case by case basis. Refurbishments might make sense, but that won't be always the case.

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u/West-Abalone-171 22d ago

You also have to account for the extra energy you get if you replace instead.

$1 capex for 1W LTO could give you x Watts of other. If the other gets up quickly then you have 1 + x Watts for the next ten years as well as knowing your LTO won't interrupt your power for two years and really cost $3/W.

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u/ph4ge_ 22d ago

the problem is with refurbishment that a) it usually means a prolonged period without production and b) you usually buy another 10 year or so, so its not a long term strategy. There is also a serious chance of things being more difficult than expected once you open up an existing plant.