Nuclear power in the 21st century: energy systems analysis and techno-economic challenges of the nuclear back-end

This thesis investigates techno-economic challenges faced by the nuclear power industry in the 21st century. The first part of the thesis covers the feasibility and techno-economic potentials of nuclear power for future energy system decarbonization: While for many decades, nuclear power has been portrayed as a cheap, reliable, and clean source of energy, the industry has so far failed to deliver on these promises. Consequently, the feasibility of global nuclear power capacity expansion proclamations must be challenged given the global industry’s lack of capability (Chapter 2). Furthermore, the results of a two-fold analysis of a cost-minimizing linear energy system optimization model show that even if technologies were available, nuclear must become much cheaper to be viable in future decarbonized energy systems dominated by renewables (Chapters 3 and 4). The second part of this thesis focuses on the techo-economic challenges of the nuclear back-end that have been underestimated historically. In Chapter 5, an overview of nuclear decommissioning practices and organization is provided for six countries. This work shows that in the field of nuclear decommissioning, several knowledge gaps exist, regarding, e.g., contigency measures to minimize funding shortfalls, the interplay of regulation and efficiency, or the potential role of private actors accelerating decommissioning projects. Chapter 6 addresses the latter topic by providing a transaction-cost-based analysis of decommissioning organizational models in the United Kingdom and the United States. It shows that the current approaches in the United States could increase decommissioning efficiencies, allwhile bearing the risks of stranded assets and profit-maximizing entities cutting safety-related corners. The final Chapter 7 assesses potential funding shortfalls for nuclear waste management activities in Germany and shows that if future generations are to be spared from having to fund these activities, today’s generations must increase the volume of Germany’s external waste fund KENFO today, and accelerate the site selection process for a final repository for Germany’s highly radioactive wastes.