More than 90
For new plants, coal continues to
eration technologies. Of the United States'
dominate only in countries with (1)
103 operating reactors, more than 90 per-
percent of
protectionist tendencies for impor-
cent have improved capacity, safety, and
nuclear power
tant indigenous industries, such as
cost factors.7 5 In the eight-year period end-
plants in the
Germany [and Great Britain], or (2)
ing in 1997, average plant capacity factors
surging economic growth and mas-
and total output per facility increased by 7
United States
sive domestic supplies, such as China
percent and 6 percent, respectively. Total
have improved
and India. Coal is also an important
output increased 9 percent as well, owing to
factor in new construction for coun-
a net increase of three units.76 Between 1990
capacity, safety,
tries such as Japan and Korea, which
and 1996 (the last year for which informa-
and cost factors.
import most or all their energy. . . . In
tion is available), the average production
most other countries with healthy
cost (marginal cost) of U.S. plants fell 21
coal industries, large [coal] projects
percent.77 The Department of Energy
tend to get pushed farther out on the
expects continued increases in operating
planning horizon [because of compe-
efficiencies through its 2020 forecast peri-
tition from gas technologies].7 2
od. However, the average is for fewer units
because of the retirement of uneconomic
capacity and an absence of new entry
If you cannot beat them, join them. A
because of cheaper fossil-fuel alternatives
strategy to reduce emissions at existing coal
and political opposition.7 8
plants is cofiring: for less than $25 per kWh
natural gas is burned along with coal in the
New advanced light-water reactor designs
primary combustion zone of a boiler to
have been certified for the market, led by the
reduce SO emissions and increase electricity
600-megawatt Westinghouse design and two
2
output. Optimized cofiring can reduce emis-
1,350-megawatt designs by General Electric
sions more than proportionally to the emis-
and Combustion Engineering. An overarch-
sion reduction associated with the percent-
ing goal of the new designs is standardiza-
age of natural gas used. Another option is gas
tion and simplification to reduce costs,
reburning by which NO as well as SO emis-
speed construction, improve reliability, and
x
2
sions are reduced.7 3
ensure safety. While domestic interest in new
nuclear capacity is absent, overseas business
Advances in Nuclear Plant Design
is bringing the new technology to market. In
1996 a new generation of nuclear plant
The size of the world's nuclear power
design came of age with the completion of a
industry qualifies uranium as a conventional
1,356-megawatt advanced boiling-water
energy source that complements fossil fuels.
reactor in Japan. The plant took four and a
Nuclear fuel is also the largest emission-free
half years to build (compared with some U.S.
energy source for electricity generation in the
nuclear plants that took 11 years or more to
world, even after accounting for the "embed-
construct) and came in under budget. Its
ded energy" pollution associated with infra-
standardized design will minimize mainte-
structure (primarily cement). While fossil-
nance and reduce worker risks during its
fuel alternatives, as well as hydroelectricity,
future decades of operation.7 9 A new design
have eclipsed nuclear fuel on economic
grounds in many regions, nuclear plants are
for U.S. operation based on "simplification
becoming more standardized and economi-
and a high degree of modularity" could
cal. For large-scale needs in future centuries,
reduce construction time to three years,
nuclear technologies may be the leading
according to the Electric Power Research
backstop to fossil fuels for primary electricity
Institute.8 0 This is a very aggressive estimate
generation.7 4
for the near future, however.
Regulatory streamlining and a political
The performance of nuclear power is
resolution of the nuclear waste problem are
improving with existing units and new-gen-
15