Review of technical-economic trends for currently operating nuclear power reactors

Abstract

This work attempts a compilation on the performance and evolution indicators for today's (2020) operating nuclear power reactors. Data were obtained from IAEA's Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) Database, transferred to spreadsheets, post-processed, plotted in cognitive graphs and interpreted appropriately. The aim was to identify past, present and possibly future trends related to the usage of nuclear power for electricity production. The examined time span covers mainly currently operating power reactors, which have been grid connected since the '70s. Several operational periods could be identified, each one with its own properties and characteristics: (a) pre Three-Mile-Island, (b) post Three-Mile-Island, (c) post Chernobyl, (d) post Fukushima and, (e) New Build. These periods are loosely connected to the reactor generations as released and installed, i.e. Gen-II, Gen-III and Gen-III+. Although discussed as early as in the late '90s, Gen-IV reactors have not yet been developed. The New Build period involves mainly Gen-III+ types, the proposed Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and, recently, Mini Modular Reactors (MMR). Overall, these indicators point out that: (i) there is no negative trend on the number of active power reactors, (ii) the annual electricity produced by nuclear sources is steadily increasing, (iii) the reactors performance is getting better, (iv) despite their negligible number, the reactor accidents have been the main factors, which prohibited the expansion of nuclear reactors for electricity production, (v) all such accidents were followed by a period of conservative usage of most reactors, and, (vi) there is long-term improvement of the average reactor operational characteristics.