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The net-energy yield of nuclear power

Author

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  • Tyner, Gene
  • Costanza, Robert
  • Fowler, Richard G.

Abstract

Most prior net-energy studies of nuclear-power systems accounted only for the direct consumption of fuels and the indirect consumption of energy embodied in physical materials when making such estimates. Most ignored the energy embodied in labor, government, and financial services. In this study, total economic cost is used as a surrogate to estimate the total input-energy cost of constructing, operating, financing, and disposal of nuclear-power systems. Although the cost and performance data used in this study are from light-water reactor systems experience, it is assumed that fast-neutron reactors may be substituted for light-water reactors when economic conditions dictate. We make the conservative assumption that the cost and performance characteristics of fast-neutron reactors will be similar to those of light-water reactors. We conclude that the operation of a large nuclear-power system, involving a continuing construction program of starting one new 1000-MW system each month for 100 yrs, would yield a relatively small amount of net energy, under optimistic assumptions. Under less-optimistic assumptions the net-energy yield is negligible to negative. The average net-energy yield increases, somewhat, when optimistic assumptions are added to account for the possibility of improved efficiency in an all-electric economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Tyner, Gene & Costanza, Robert & Fowler, Richard G., 1988. "The net-energy yield of nuclear power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 73-81.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:13:y:1988:i:1:p:73-81
    DOI: 10.1016/0360-5442(88)90080-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Proops, John, 2001. "The (non-) economics of the nuclear fuel cycle: an historical and discourse analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 13-19, October.
    2. Roberto Schaeffer & Jeffrey Logan & Alexandre Szklo & William Chandler & João de Souza Marques, 2001. "Brazil's Electric Power Choices and Their Corresponding Carbon Emissions Implications," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 47-69, March.
    3. Nam, Hoseok & Ibano, Kenzo & Konishi, Satoshi, 2020. "Cost analysis and energy return on investment of fuel cell and gas turbine integrated fusion-biomass hybrid system; application of a small scale conceptual fusion reactor GNOME," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    4. Atlason, R.S. & Unnthorsson, R., 2013. "Hot water production improves the energy return on investment of geothermal power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 273-280.
    5. Weißbach, D. & Ruprecht, G. & Huke, A. & Czerski, K. & Gottlieb, S. & Hussein, A., 2013. "Energy intensities, EROIs (energy returned on invested), and energy payback times of electricity generating power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 210-221.
    6. Atlason, R.S. & Unnthorsson, R., 2014. "Energy return on investment of hydroelectric power generation calculated using a standardised methodology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 364-370.
    7. Gately, Mark, 2007. "The EROI of U.S. offshore energy extraction: A net energy analysis of the Gulf of Mexico," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2-3), pages 355-364, August.

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