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WASH-1126.txt
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APRIL 1969
Aaorts
lopmeat end Technology
Prepared by
i
Division of Resctor Deva
P sl by the
i
FREFACK
The widespread and mccntrat“’ efforts being devoted on a national
and international basis to do%dop a breedsr reactor clearly evidences
man's intense desire to free himself from limited and costly energy
sources. The introduction of the dreeder resctor into the utility
market will provide virtually unlimited energy which can bde used to
elevate the standard of livin:? and, with proper attention, improve
man's enviromment,
The basic importance of major sustained commitments of managerial and
financial resources by covornp;ont_. private irdustry and the utilities
to the overall success o!’th.;brtodor program cannot be over-emphasized.
Experience in the devclopuontémd application of civilian nuclear power
reactors has estadblished that such commitments are essential to bring
into being the technologies, t%'uunch and development facilities,
trained personnel, components, systems, and production facilittes
necessary to assure the ouccoéntul introduction of the bdreeder into
the commercial market. In vlfi of the sudstantial invastment of the
nation's resources that the é#volopntnt of the Dreeder entails, it
seems highly appropriste that in uhiu the decision to proceed with
this program, estimated costs b. unaaured asgainst the denefits expected
to derive from the investment.,
In recognition of the desirability of detter dafining the commitments
and benefits implicit {n the bdreeder development program, the 1. S.
nt and Technology
Atomlc Enargy Coemisation, Dlviaion of Reactor Developme
ftt
undertook the task o_t conducting the otudy described in this “Cost-
Benefit Analysis o! th'u. 8. liutht ludtor Progran.” The optinmi-
zation of the U. s. Qlectuc oum Qcm over a 30-year period
sexves as abuu tormmsdy A Mmrptogr-in:sodol of the
United States olcctrtcal cmm ecomuy developed by Pacific Morth-
west lLadorvatory, ad principal menders of other sectors of the nuclesr
community was used in the a;my-u. 1t 18 important to note that the
model utilized in this iqainin is in an early stage of development
and {s deing continually tnrmd to better simulate the c!nuctoflotiu
of the nation's power oconoieny. |
The benefits considered in ftho calculations are those that are clearly
quantifiadle and take the %om of low-cost electrical energy, reductions
in uranium ore roqultmnu: and in uparnt.tn work demand, {ncrease in
plutonium production, and ufn of uranium tailings. Also, the report
makes veference to other benefits of msjor importance which are not
quantifiadle, at least not at the present time. Such benefits include
those associated with rodm;um of air pollution and with new uses for |
low cost electricity and M}t such as large scale desalting of sea water.
Weighed against the quantifiadle denefits are the costas expected to de
incurred by the Covermment in the d.viloput of the dreeder. This
spproach appears uumhlo_ in view of the fact that the coatinuing
progran of systems mlyal;. vhich provides input for studies of this
nature, has as {ts major objecttn the deternination of the GCovernmeat's
future role in advanced ru:ctor development.
1
tw
The funds and other resources which the Govermment, the large industrisl
couplex, and the utilities fino alndy.‘mtttd to the breeder pm
and to companion nm-brudor progrens coupled to the urenium-plutonium
cycle, have mt_;__.,"*“ Wdimuy, nor have future expenditures by
the utilities ul mnfumficubm!umd fato the study. Use charges
for plutonium used in the MAD program amounting to sbout $A0 million
discounted to 1970 were not;ineluded. These represent sbout 1% of the
R&D discounted mndltuno"ud would not effect numerical vesults to -
any noticeable degres. mihmn. 0o weight has deen given to the
quite evident priority and si3adle commitnents which have also been
made to breeder programs by the other countries with strong progreme
for the exploitation of miur pover,
Cost-benefit analysis ohoulil be considered as only one of the many
elements of input pertinent to dcéutcn-unu. Exsmination of results
of cost-denefits analyses conducted {n the past, when compared to actusl
program progress and unuoi, lndont‘utu well those limitations inhereat
in any such analyses and the continuiag need to insure compatidility of
assumptions {n the mlyou%vttb tfio assumptions {n the program plan.
The degree of .ophutuauofi of the wodel devel oped, the validity of
the assumptions wade, the quality of the anslysis involved, and the |
sature of the analysis tmim. and the nature of the sudject studied
all will affect the use of such an anslysis in decision making. Particular
care must be taken to avoid the tendency to regard cost-benefit analysis
as an end unto itself; it will de a useful tool only {f it {s properly
applied vith full realfization of the {nherent limitations of such studies.
assuzptions m: h"'dmlopd u m fmto o! mnsblo faformation and
indicated -tvends in the mlur mm program. As & logical cousequence,
therefore, the actual _mltg - tn the future will de predicated on which
values of the paremeters bom valid. Ve believe that the acticas to de
taken over the mext fev years will significently affect the outcome. |
Such sctions include the dogm of KD support givea to the dreeder pro-
gram by doth the Govermment tnd hdultty. a9 it will affect the date of
introduction of the dreeder} pm;u promulgated in fossil fuel costs; and
changes affecting capital cu;n snd fuel cjch costs, including uranium
c«ti. A parsmeter Over vhich there s little control at the present,
electrical energy demand, vilil also have an oftut on the future outcoms.
0f particular importance s tho degree to vhich sssociated programs are
given high priority md are fimlM vith the resources previously identi-
fied as essential to thetr success. 1n this vegard, the recently pudlish-
ed detailed LMFAR progran pla:n provided a losléal base for projecting costs
and schedules for the LMFBR portion of the anslysis.
1t should be recognized that the rapidly expanding electric power industry
may encounter problems, awllicablc to nuclear and/or fossil-fired power
Plant, the resolutica of which could concetvably affect the valtdity of
large mtm ot rmu-nm pover mm
1® is mmrun i&at cm npott plao pfluty q&uu on mluvlt:
of benefits to changes ta nrmton. and {t 1s this sensitivity vhich
should be of primery Qntctglt;to the resder. Of particulsr sote s the
significant reduction {n denefits that will develop £f (1) the nuclear
industry is not capable of n;ctiu present and projected nuclear power
commitments, (2) the mmuu date for the dreeder veactor is delayed
significantly due to tum_:mh a8 8 veduction in research and development
support or failure of the research and development program to meet program-
matic goals, (3) discount rates higher than 8 to 92 are applied, aad_lor
such larger than “t(utoé Mtitlu of low cost uranium decome availadle.
1t {s of paramount l-sorunezo that timely results be achieved with respect
to etrengthening the execution of the civilian nuclear power prograzs {n
this country, including those capadilities sssocisted with the breeder
developaent. The results of this study assume success in these necessary
strengthening actions; delays will jeopardize the success of these programs
and could seriously affect their cost sad sudstantiaslly affect bdenefits.
Accordingly, it is necessary that we proceed with the strongest possidle
engineering and quality assurence programs.
% Aw. kare
-
Milton Shaw, Director
- Division of Reactor Development
= ‘and Technology
: viit
i 2ABLE oF covrwTs S
- -
oooud-otojoo@q.oootoooouodo 11
Pmm '
2.0 smmnoroosr-nmm'rmmszs....................... 9
3.0 nxscmsxal OPCNT-BWI‘!' MSI&uu..uuuuu.u 14
4.0 OTHER mmmnws................................... 33
3.0 mmmmsmmmm BENEFIT
msmoooooc_ooo?oiq’;t_jooocoooooooooo-ooocoooooouuo 83
APPENDICES
“A" - SELECTED STATEMENTS AND REVIEWS IN SUPPORT
oF THR an mooooooooooooocoooooo--.oo 76
"B" - STATEMENTS RECARDING CORPORATE COMMITMENTS
OF MAJOR REACTOR MANUFACTURERS TO LMFBR «ccceoee 86
"C" - UTILITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE LMFBR PROGRAM
(NOVMER ‘968)20000'00oooooooooooooooo.oooo.os..o- 90
“D* - INTERNATIONAL PAST BREEDER PROGRAMS AMD
mmnms.guu....uuu........u.......... 93.
ix
—— ez,
TABLE 1 - COST-BENEFIT Amxm GROUPS OF CASES CONSIDERED...ceseces 13
ZTABLE 2 - COST-BENEFIT AMALYSIS = SMUARY OF ESTIMATED AEC RESEARCH
" AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS = CUMULATIVE-FISCAL YEAR (FY) 1970-
zmo ’ Bmlmu...u....u..uu.uu...........e....... 18
TABLE 3 m-nwn' Aumsu cosrs. BENEFITS, AND BENEFIT/COST
IMIO roR an PROGRAM (DISCOUNTED T0 1970 @ 7R)ccccccces 20
TABLE & - mnmn AWSIS . SMMARY OF RESULTS (1970-2020)c 0. 21
TABLE 3 - cos'r BENEFIT AMALYSIS - COSTS, BENEFITS, AND BENEFIT/COST
RATIO FOR BREEDER mocun (mmm 'm 1970 @ 5R)eeccecsss A2
TABLE § - COST-BENEFIT wasxs COSTS, BENEFITS, AND BENEFIT/COST
RATIO FOR BREEDER PROGRAM (DISCOUNTED TO 1970 @ 7X)ecceccces 43
TABLR 7 - COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - COSTS, BENEFITS, AND BENEF1Y/COST
RATIO FOR BREEDER PROGRAM (DISCOUNTED TO 1970 @ 10%).ceec..c. A4
TABLE 8 - COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - COSTS, BENEFITS, AND BENEFIT/COST
RATIO FOR BREEDER PROGRAM (DISCOUNTED T0 1970 @ 12.5%).ccc.. 43
TABLR 9 « COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - GENERATING CAPACITY JUILT (NUMBER
0' 1000 m m) - CASES 1.1 m 1.3 00008 00SOSGERTIRESS 49
TABLE 10- COST-BENEYIT ANALYSIS - GENERATING CAPACITY BUILT (MURMBER
or 1000 m ’m) - CAS! 1.“ COQCGEINBBRGNNGEGINSNTCRBEDGIOERTS 69
TABLE 11. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - TYPICAL REACTOR CHARACTERISTICS
”sm In msx_s................................!.l.‘l..l 67
TABLE 12. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - REPRESENTATIVE FULL FABRICATION
m mmmm m'......................0.......Ql.l.l. 68
TABLE 13- COST-BENEZIT ANALYSIS - U303 RESOURCE VS. AVERAGE . 03
mmmuAmmw mmlm.............‘. 70
TABLE 14~ COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - U.S. AEC URANI(R RESCURCES
Mls m mu 13)...........................IC..I........ 71
TABLE 15- COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - ESTIMATES OF ELECTRICAL ENERGCY
Dm............'.............O................II......... 72
mu D"‘l - nR mm - m.....-...u...................... 97
TABLE D-2 - COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - LIQUID METAL coown FAST
RMCTOR mmm.........-....... ooooooooooo ses s s sensn 98
ncm 3 oosr-nmr muxsts MISOOWTD BREEDER
BENEFITS VS. LMFBR INTRODUCTION DATE FOR DIFFERENT
m m (197“2&0)..lC..O.‘....l.....‘........l. 33
FIGURE § - CNT-BWI‘! ANALYSIS Dlsm (71) BREEDER
BENEFITS VS, IMFBR INTRODUCTION DATE FOR DIFFERENT
m Dms (197&2020)Q‘C...C.Q..............‘...l‘. “
PIGURE 3 - COST-BENEFIT ARALYSIS « SENSITIVITY OF DISCOUNTED
GROSS BENEFITS TO A CHANGE IN LMYBR ENERGY COSTSeecccecs 33
PIGURE 6 - COST-BENEPIT ANALYSIS - PRESENT WORTH OF $100
SPENT TEN AND FIFTY YEARS 1IN THE FUTURE VERSUS
m Dlscom Mn....................l..ll......l.l...l. ‘l
PIGURE 7 - COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - ELASTICITY IN THE DEMAND
FOR mmclnioooo00oooo.otooooooo.oooooooooo-oooooop. 62
FIGURE 8 - COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - ASSUMPTION FOR CAPITAL COSTS
or m m.j.,Ol.me.toa.loooooooooaooo.coo..oooo.ooo 63
xi
In this snalysis, the Liquid )htal-CmM Yast Breeder Reactor (LMFER)
ls sssumed to be the initial dreeder type coumercially fntroduced into
the U. 8. electric power ecdmy. The denefite vhich have deen
salculated in this avelysis tfcaultins from the {ntroduction of the
are representative of t}u banefits to de achieved from the
succaesful introduction of a dreeder or sven two dresder types.
fhe results of the cost-benofit analysis depend upom assumpticns which
atentially affect the future cost of electrical energy. Since
the prospes
iitivities of undiscounted snd discounted denefits to
: timing of the introduction date
tive value of wany of these variadblee is uncertain, the
T
(ollowing key varisbles have been
>f the breeder; uranium costes; fossil fuel costs; electrical energy
costs, vhich include plent capital and fuel cycle coets; and discount
tates.
A
tuud ohctucn mrntm'plmq"'m (2) cmvmu- rmton'(!n).
plus adnnced cmrur mcton (m) plu____br«hr mctm (L),
plus fosail mud olcotrtcal morauu'phnn. These ulculatum
vere based ¢a @ nnur progrndug nodel o! the United States
electrical energy ezoncay amlop« by Pacific Mortiwest Laboratory.
The modal has been prepared in conjunction with the activities of the
Systems Analyses Task Yorceq which has bdeen working on civilian nuclesr
pover evaluations with the AEC Division of Reactor Development and
Technology.
The quantifiadle benefits discussed herein have been recognized since
the inception of nuclear p&\nt a8 the dasis of support for dreeder
programs ia the United sui« and in every major highly industrialized
country in the world, m:otlnr important benefits, many less tangidle
and move difficult to quantify than those quantifiadle in terms of
lover slectrical energy coaft. are of sudstantial consequence in any
maaningful review of the vole vhich nuclear power and foesil fuel plants
can play in the future to mee: the erergy demands of the United States.
o
Mm a mmuy muum m source for future genarations
«mu only be mu.m thrw» th Mnlomt and application of the
bw rmtow. ‘lh ."”?tatcmt ’-'in m«« uutm datu bnk to_. |
the Meabattsn fijecg deys, When the pmmmy ves first Tecopatsed
by ploseers 1n the suclesr f1eld, In 1943 Eurteo Farnt cbeerved cm. E
*The coustry vhich firet amxm . mm resctor will beve o grest
competitive umaun tu atonle mm. ; To obtain this advantage,
the U. 8, suclesr ce-muy m been mttu for over 20 yesrs on the
breeder reactor. In 1943 tho developmént of the plutonius fueled fast
breedar vas established as & major goal by the Argonne Mstionsl Ladoratory
Division of the Manhattan District Matallurgical Ladorstory. The program
has deen continuous since that time, and the momentum now has duilt up
to the point vhere the large-scale introduction and commercisl scceptance
of the dreeder will de hut}lo in the near future. Appendix A presents
some of the more significant reviews and statements that have been made
over ths years on the mtionéal importance and potential of the dreeder
progran,
Mach of the essential effort on the dreeder was conducted in the AIC
national ladoratories. The Clementine reactor was coastructed at
Los Alanos and used from lhrgb 1949 to December 1952 to demonstrate the
TR IR A PN St £t anens s o emeaen
feasidility of operating with fast neutrons, plutonium fuel and a liquid
metal coolant. The Expsrimental Breeder Reactor I (EER-1) was duilt
and cperated by Argonns National Laboratory from August 1951 through
mflumummmmnwuu in a fsst flux vesstox
snd to «mxm m ! fessidility of using 1iquid wetal
coolant. .
nlulmu uutul to the opouun {n envirooments of fast flux and
high mtm uqud unl were mmm. These developments leod
to demonstrating the flmm and safaty of & fast nu neutron
spectrum Teactor, cuhiuuu {n the coanstruction of two fast resctors
in the mid 1930%s, the 62.} Mt EBR-11 snd the 200 Mit Permi reactor.
Several factors mitigated mmt fsmediate success in terme of the
commercisl exploitation o!;tho breeder resctor: the development effort was
focused largaly on technological goals: the industrial izvolvement wes ain-
imal; and the Dreeder dmlbp-nt participation was essentially coanfined
to the national laboratories, with the exception of the Permi developmeat
effort. The industrial m concentrated on the light water reactors
and the nuclear lcvy.vbou:m«n vas nearer at hand. The 'prom
uranium resources mur«llm!nctnt to meet predicted requirements.
Though a relatively large goehnologicn base, including test facilities,
vas being developed in the laboratories, the dreeder effort was diffuse
in terma of an engineering type of undertaking. In genersl, until the
nid-1960's, there appeared to be 00 urgent requirement to concentrate
the industrial resources on the breeder program.
e Moo e e+ ot we eens s e s e e e
In 1962, the AZC issued its h&port to the President on Civilisn Nuclear
Pover. This report clearly ;t-anphallsed that the use of dreeders
could solve the prodles of an adequate ind economic energy supply for
the future. The report coucindod that nuclear energy can and should
aske sn important and mntufally: 8 vital contridution toward uweseting
our long term energy rtquire;.uto. and that econocmic bdreeders were
essential to the long range major hao of nuclear energy. The report
included & detailed discussion of the place to de occupied by the
breeders in the ov.rill program.
Faced with the question of d;torndnins the future course to be taken
by the U, $. advanced roacto; development programs, the AEC, in early
1965, initiated » series of ?vnrnll technical reviews. These reviews
of the reactor program indicated a lack of important engineering
information, and an 1nadoquaci of facilities and other resources necessary
to obtain that information ithcrt vas clear evidence of the need to
build up the engineering cap;htllttos in the ladboratories and {n i{ndustry
and to aspemble necessary an@ adequate resources to develop and produce
safe, reliadle and ocononicnl dbreeder power plants for operation in the
vtility enviromment. These early overall reviews further indicated a
requirement for in-depth reviews of each of the technical elements of
the dreeder program. Concurrently, it was necessary to initiate detailed
plans for each of the elements of the dreeder prograa.
mrm:usm«l reusrkable advances were taking place in the
development o! n;m: water resctor power plants. As a result,
mlmnmmd tmfi.fid«wofimmmuamm
of electricsl cwu The resultsnt unprecedented demand for light
vator power resctor plants, mauolod by grestly incressed uranium
demands snd Yy projected large-scale plutonium production, provided
sdditional incentives for a move direct and concentrated effort on &
vaified dreeder development progrea than hitherto schieved. It was
recognized that the plutonium produced in light water resctors
could de most efficiently used in the fast bdreeder reactors sand that
the breeder would measuredly reduce uranium ore requirements. The
breeder development pto&n wvas thus invested with a sense of urgency
which had deen lacking up to then.
In early 1967, the Ato_-ic Pnargy Comnisetion fssued the 1967 Supplement
to the 1962 Report to the President oa Civilisn Wuclesr Fower. The
Supplement set forth the changes that had occurred simce 1962, and
considered the ongoing AIC reactor programs im relation to the
recozmendations of the 1962 veport. The Supplement resffirmed the
promise of the dreesder for meeting our long term energy needs snd
sstadlished the LMFBR program as the highest priority civiliasn resctor
development effort vhich would lesd to full commercisl scceptance of
the Dreeder. Ths continuing AEC role of leadership was reviewed
relative to the development of nuclesr technology required to sssure
the nation that large amounts of low cost energy would be availadle
o LS 5 A
for the growing Mu!t-. The steps taken to strengthen the industrial
snd utility cspadility requisite to the succeasful introduction of
the LR and the timely development and commsercial utilisstiocn of the
fast breeders, in putfcularly the LMFER, vere discussed.
In view of the utobuqh«l'unt priority, tha level of activity cn
the LXFER wae cmtdou;bly increased in Fiscal Years 1967, 1968 and
1969. The duildup to bring together the required resocurces, including
msnpover, fscilities, and funds has continued within the AEC, the ARC
laboratories, snd in other sectors of the nuclesr community. New
major test facilities én under construction snd other existing
facilities are dDeing upgraded. Encoursged dy the increased attention
snd efforts of the Covernment, substantial commitments have been nsde
by the major reactor nénutacturor- and the utilities with & view to
naking large-scale c@ltmto to the first LMFBR demonstration plants
in the 1970%s. Thn?o tn§ootnaati are in addition to the heavy LWR
commitnents.
In recognition of the importance of the fast dreeder, the Edison
Electric Institute (ui). sn association of the private utilities,
conducted a detailed study of the status of fast dreeder reactor
development. Their report was pudlished in April 1969. In the
Foreword of this report, the situation was stated as follows:
“1he Subcommittee (EE1) on Fast Breeder Reactor Development
urges that all EEI members give the most careful consideration
to this report and to ways and means of {mplementing the
mmendaotions set forth., In the entire industrial history
y
~ veactors 19 jJust aun.__ tnto cmulfim. u h duucult |
_uxmly to lbouuor__: ttn problu. o! !«uflu n onuuly
h m mcpt. _ .' . ‘the uprt ‘brings out, tluu are
momln uum. both in terms of opportmity end tupoul-
biuty. to do s0 .nd strong incentives to do so promptly.”
The LMFBR Program Office at the Argonne Mational Ladoratory has prepared
¥R Program Plans#, under the direction of the AXC, vhich have recently
been relesased. The Program Plans are national in scope and represent
the results of many mthni of discussions, reviews, and assessuents
withia the nuclear cmiiy. The Plans represent a major sdvance in
the LMFBR program by uttfu forth in a comprehensive manner those
courses of action w«ufy for achieving the o&}utim of the LYOFBR
program. The Joint Mtf« on Atomic Energy of the Congress of
the Congress of the United States has odserved that the LMFBR Progrem
Plans vepresent one of the most carefully thought-out long range
davelopmental efforts ever pursued dy the U. S. Covernment.
*Report Numbers WASR 1101 through 1110.
This emt-bemut mlyl imlud an utmtva systens analysis effort -
and the dmlopunt o! memo for the' zu:y ym period 1970 « 2020, - ‘o:
Eight m o! ulmhum voro por!onnd to mvutiuu the effects
of varying assumptions uaon bm!ttn accrued from an economy with a v
breeder reactor as caplnd vtth an econony without a breeder, The
sajor umum relute tO umh- cocu. t_oun fuel costs, oloctrtcal _
energy demands, electrical mrn cocto. uul the intreduction date of |
the breeder.
Three major quantifisble conclusions from the snalysis are:
1. The breeder can produce not ocnly large direct mooey benafits from
the low cost of electrical energy, but also other tangible quantitative
beneiits, such as those a,oochtod vith reduced uranium requirements,
reduced uranium separative work requirements, and the large productiocn
of plutonium.
2. The benefit/cost ratio is significantly greater thsn cne for wmost of
the cases having & discount rate of 7% or less. The denefit to coat ratios
fall delow 1, for @ Mt of cases dased on discount rates adbove 7%.
3. Deferring the presently planned LMFER R&D progran with consequent
delays in the introduction date does uot substantially reduce the
present worth of the R&D expenditures. 1In all cases, deferring the
LMFBR R&D program incresses the undiscounted R&D costs.
pattma ufl mnm umum. anfl & 30-year time period during
which many thlm tocholonul sdvances may be anticipated,
Yollowing are othor hportmt conclusions:
1.
2.
3.
&.
The increased dollar benefits from reduced costs of electrical energy
alone, resulting from the early introduction of the breeder, provide
a major incentive for a timely and strong research and development
progrem, and even make & strong point for its acceleraticn.
Although an incresse in uranium ore costs is highly prodable, even &
constant U40g cost ($8/1d), with constant fossil fuel costs, and with
an early introduction of the LMFBR, provides mbotandu benefits for
discount rates delow 7%, and sudbstantial danefits for a 1980 Introduction
at 7% discount rate.
Early introduction of the dreeder substantially reduces future uranium
ore demands.
Barly introduction of the breeder substantially reduces !utuu'urmtm
separative vork dewand.
10
6.
7.
9
10.
11,
mi.ns-;a___ducml:inn o! :'72 o _I____hu md uuning 1984 or earlier
mtrmtim zmmn honl!u progran mld. in =08t cases,
m mlyou shows a niptflmt nm'uu in bmfl.u vith a higher
energy dunnd pmjoctton. o
The benefits nccrutns from tho introduction of the breeder are affected
by changes in fouil fuel costs. These benefits would be increased
significantly if increases in foaeil fuel costs are experienced.
Small changes in the cost of electrical energy from the breeder
cause significant changes in the benefits, with capital coets
being more important in this regard than fuel cycle costs.
In all cases considered vwith dreedsr introduction, thes nuclear
generating capacity by year 2020 represents an extremsly large
percentage of the total electrical generating capacity available
for competition between fossil fusled and nuclear fueled power plants.
Discount rates substantially above 7% seriously affect dollar benefits
because of low present worth in 1970 of large undiscounted gross
bdenefits for the latter part of the 50 year period as compared
vith the high present worth in 1970 of RSD sxpenditures in the
early part of the 50 year pericd.
Other benefits not as readily susceptible to quantitative analysis
|
d.
G
£.
_ 10w cost electrictty to aress vhich have
Virtual elimination of air pollution from electrical power
plantse,
Assursnce that low coat uranium ore reserves will de most
efficiently used, :
A preniun warket for pln'gmu produced by 1light water
reactors.
-ty
-
b
The efficlent and economic utilization of the depleted uranium
stockpile,
The e¢fficient use of the resources committed to ths breeder
program in the AEC natiomal lsboratories, in the U. S. industry
in the U. 8. utilities.
12
e
electrical energy duindo. .lutriul energy mto. . tining
of the introduction of the breeder. The charscteristics of the .
eight groups are sumarized in Tadle 1. Each group consists
of a base case without a breeder compared with cases with a dreeder
represented by the LMFBR. Case 1.3a and other “a" cases cover
a parsllel breeder program. The benefits of introducing the
breeder in different years were determined by comparison with the
bese cases without a dreeder. The four parameters studied included
the intreduction date of the breeder, the cost of uranium, the
cost of fossil fuel, and the energy demand. Groups 1, 3, 4,
and 6, provide & measure of how varying energy demands affect
benafits for assumed rising uranium costs and constant iossil
fuel costs. Similarly, groups 2, 7, and 8 provide a measure of how
varying energy demands affect benefits for assumed constant $8 per
pound uranius costs and constant fossil fuel costs. Group 5 examines
14
These _Iumum nlato to :’nraniu tml e«u, fou;l t«l coms .
AN
ssE
..
i
Rising Rising
" -
" "
[ -
“ L
“» -
- »
Rising | Constant
“ »
“» »
? 7.1 [ Nove mlb. Constant
7.2 1984 - "
7.22]1984 - -
8 | 8.1 [Mone | $8/1d,. | Constant
8.2 11984 -
5.20] 1584 " »
* PFarallel breeder program. The parallel breeder is introduced in 1992,
*% Current dreeder program with delay of two years in demonstration plants,
1s
% i
for a sartes of posstble
elactricity grovth patterms, Esch calculaticn simulatel the grevth
“
of the mm as wlon«d by & set of foimhtd paramaters
The 30-yesr ensrgy cugd a systen with a breeder coupared vith
the SO-yesr enargy 206t of a system vhich does not include a breeder
provides an estinmate o_! the principal incremental dollar benefits
expected from wmmc in 8 bresder program. The dollar value of
other benefite which have or could be quintitatively obtained are
not imlud_m the susmary or in the derived benefit/cost ratios.
umu fato tho_nuuty mm. 'm [ costs umc u mu 2
mm«mmmmmms
Pl A, u.hemmannumcmmm )
?lan B, MR + HICR + LMFER with § slternstives listed delow,
including @ persllel Breeder program:
3-1 Currently plsnned breeder progrem 1984 o,
B2 Accelerated dreeder program 1980
B-3 Current dreeder progrem with s delsy 1986
{a dencnstration plants of 2 years
B-4 LMIIR technology progrsa at $40 milliom 1990
per sooum 197177 ‘
B+3 LMFER technology prograa st $13 millica 1994
per anmwm 197177
Parallel breeder program « Parallel breeder 1984
{ntroduced 1992
All plans include competitive fossil fual systems.
The results of the RAD cost snalysis indicate that undiscounted R&D
costs for the dreedsr progrem vary from $3.5 dillion for an accelerated
program introducing sn IMFER in 1980 to $3.6 billion for a parsllel
17