National strategies for nuclear power reactor development

The document assesses the potential for design innovation in three areas of nuclear power plant technology: light-water reactor systems; liquid-metal reactor systems; and high-temperature-gas reactor systems. The question of how capital costs scale with unit size in nuclear power reactor systems is addressed. Small modular high temperature gas reactor designs are reviewed, and an electric-power-system capacity-planning model that allows estimates to be made of the economic implications of construction lead time and power rating variations for utility ratepayers and shareholders is presented. The effects of industrial reorganization and structure on the economic performance of the nuclear power industry in the U.S. is explored, and options available to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for establishing the general philosphy, technical criteria, and organizational approach to the regulation of a new generation of nuclear power plants are discussed. Light-water-reactor systems are determined to be the only plausible technical option if nuclear power is to figure in the capacity expansion plans of U.S. electric utilities in the near term.