Technical and Economic Comparative Analysis of Nuclear Power Plants: AP1000 and SMR

Natalia Kasińska, Agata Mielcarek, Jakub Sierchuła, Radosław Szczerbowski and Bartosz Ceran ()
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Natalia Kasińska: Institute of Electric Power Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3A, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Agata Mielcarek: Institute of Electric Power Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3A, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Jakub Sierchuła: Institute of Electric Power Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3A, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Radosław Szczerbowski: Institute of Electric Power Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3A, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Bartosz Ceran: Institute of Electric Power Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3A, 60-965 Poznan, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: Due to the necessity of decarbonising and transforming the Polish energy mix, topic of using nuclear power plants as one of the key low-carbon generation sources is returning to the public debate. This paper compares a large, system-wide AP1000 nuclear power plant with a new concept based on small modular reactors (SMRs), specifically NuScale 60 MW e . Computer models of secondary loops of the generating units were used for the analysis, and basic operating parameters were determined. A consistent modelling approach was used to evaluate technical, thermodynamic, and economic indicators. As a result, a relationship between total capital expenditures and unit electricity generation cost was developed. For example, if the investment outlays, taking into account the freeze, for a large-scale nuclear power plant are USD 8 billion, then the investment outlays for an SMR power plant should be below USD 0.4 billion in order to ultimately ensure a lower or equal unit discounted cost of electric energy generation. Assuming stable power demand, the AP1000 reactor power plant remains the most cost-effective technology, offering favourable economies of scale. However, modular units are characterised by shorter lead times and greater flexibility of application in different areas of the energy industry. Therefore, in the decarbonisation process, it is essential to develop both analysed technologies in parallel.

Keywords: energy transformation; nuclear power; comparative analysis; energy analysis; economic analysis; AP1000; SMR (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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