NEST
In 2009–2012 the IAEA INPRO section has developed a set of Excel spreadsheets called NEST (NESA Economics Support Tool) for calculation of basic economics functions of the Nuclear Power Plants. NEST was designed to calculate LUEC (levelised unit electricity cost), NPV (net present value), IRR (internal rate of return), ROI (return of investment), sensitivity characteristics for different types of NPPs and fuel cycles. Excel calculations of NEST comprise a combination of ca. 50 sheets with several hundred of tables and macros. In 2014-2016 INPRO performed a benchmark of NEST against G4ECONS (a code developed by GIF EMWG). NEST calculations requires some optimisation, unification of options throughout the different modules, improvement of user interface (UI), and incorporation of cost sensitivity diagram. User Technical manual needs to be developed to cover needs for the experts performing calculation as well as for those updating and maintaining the tool. The data entry, processing and storing system needs some enhancement to match with the IT changes.
Power generation cost mehods
There are several methodologies available for calculating power generation costs [1][2][3][4]. The IAEA report [1] includes a software package called BIDEVAL-3 to calculate power generation costs, with a set of computer programs for use on a PC. The adoption of standardized methodology for cost calculation is a prerequisite for fair comparison among different electricity generation options. So it is very important to define a well accepted method in order to produce useful and unbiased results.
For economic comparison of different types of power plants in a general framework, particularly with a small amount of additional detailed information like bond emissions, equities and other financing tools, calculating the LUEC, sometimes called levelized lifetime cost or levelized electricity generation cost, is very useful. LUEC was used in many comparative assessments [5][6][7][8][9], and is particularly suitable for the INPRO methodology, assessing the relative competitiveness of different energy sources.
More information could be found in NEST Algorithm.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Economic Evaluation of Bids for Nuclear Power Plants, 1999 Edition, Technical Reports Series No. 396, IAEA, Vienna (2000).
- ↑ INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Invitation and Evaluation of Bids for Nuclear Power Plants, IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NG-T-3.9, IAEA, Vienna (2011).
- ↑ SESONKE, A., Nuclear Power Plant Design Analysis, Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, DC (1973).
- ↑ INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Methodology for the Economic Evaluation of Cogeneration/Desalination Options, DEEP, A User’s Manual, Computer Manual Series No. 12, IAEA, Vienna (1997).
- ↑ OECD/NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY, INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY, Projected Costs of Generating Electricity, Update 1997, OECD, Paris (1998).
- ↑ UNION INTERNATIONALE DES PRODUCTEURS ET DISTRIBUTEURS D’ENERGIE ELECTRIQUE (UNIPEDE), General Report of the Group, Electricity Generating Cost, Evaluation Made in 1990 for Plant to be Commissioned in 2000, UNIPEDE, Paris (1991).
- ↑ UNION INTERNATIONALE DES PRODUCTEURS ET DISTRIBUTEURS D’ENERGIE ELECTRIQUE (UNIPEDE), Electricity Generating Cost for Thermal and Nuclear Plants to be Commissioned in 2005, UNIPEDE, Paris (1997). [1]
- ↑ OECD/NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY, INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY, Projected Costs of Generating Electricity, Update 1992, OECD, Paris (1993).
- ↑ SHROPSHIRE, D., WILLIAMS, K., SMITH, J.D., BOORE. B., Advanced Fuel Cycle Economic Sensitivity Analysis, Rep. INL/EXT-06-11947, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls (2006).
