• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.101-116
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• 1976

An attempt is made to analyze the unit nuclear power cost of the Go-ri units 1 and 2 in terms of a set of model data. For the calculational purpose, the power cost is first decomposed into the cost components related to the plant capital, operation and maintenance, working capital requirements, and fuel cycle operation. Then, POWERCO-50 computer code is applied to enumerate the first three components and MITCOST-II is used to evaluate the fuel cycle cost component. The specific numerical results are the fuel cycle cost of Go-ri unit 2 for three alternative fuel cycles presumed, levelized unit power cost of units 1 and 2, and the sensitivity of the power cost to the fluctuation of the model data. Upon comparision of the results with the power cost of the fossil power plants in Korea, it is found that the nuclear power is economically preferred to the fossil power. Nevertheless, the turnkey contract value of Go-ri unit 2 appears to be rather expensive compared with the available data on the construction cost of the PWR plants. Therefore, it is suggested that, in order to make the nuclear power plants more attractive in Korea, the unfavorable contract of such kind must be avoided in the future introduction of the nuclear power plant. Capacity factor is of prime importance to achieving the economic generation of the nuclear electricity from the Go-ri plant. Therefore, it is concluded that more efforts should be directed to make the maximum use of the Go-ri plant.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.461-471
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• 2015

Recently, the estimation of the social cost of energy sources has been emphasized as various novel energy options become feasible in addition to conventional ones. In particular, the social cost of introducing measures to protect power-distribution systems from power-source instability and the cost of accident-risk response for various power sources must be investigated. To account for these risk factors, an integrated societal risk assessment framework, based on power-uncertainty analysis and accident-consequence analysis, is proposed. In this study, we applied the proposed framework to nuclear power plants, solar photovoltaic systems, and wind-turbine generators. The required capacity of gas-turbine power plants to be used as backup power facilities to compensate for fluctuations in the power output from the main power source was estimated based on the performance indicators of each power source. The average individual health risk per terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity produced by each power source was quantitatively estimated by assessing accident frequency and the consequences of specific accident scenarios based on the probabilistic risk assessment methodology. This study is expected to provide insight into integrated societal risk analysis, and can be used to estimate the social cost of various power sources.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2011

This paper presents the quantitative analysis results of research on the burnup effect on the nuclear fuel cycle cost of BeO-$UO_2$ fuel. As a result of this analysis, if the burnup is 60 MWD/kg, which is the limit under South Korean regulations, the nuclear fuel cycle cost is 4.47 mills/kWh at 4.8wt% of Be content for the BeO-$UO_2$ fuel. It is, however, reduced to 3.70 mills/kWh at 5.4wt% of Be content if the burnup is 75MWD/kg. Therefore, it seems very advantageous, in terms of the economic aspect, to develop BeO-$UO_2$ fuel, which does not have any technical problem with its safety and is a high burnup & long life cycle nuclear fuel.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.607-625
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• 2021

The objective of this study is to estimate the relationship between CO₂ emissions and both nuclear power and renewable energy generation, and compare the cost efficiencies of nuclear power and renewable energy generation in reducing CO₂ emissions in Korea. The results show that nuclear power and renewable energy generation should be increased by 1.344% and 7.874% to reduce CO₂ emissions by 1%, respectively. Using the estimated coefficients and the levelized costs of electricity by source including the external costs, if the current amount of electricity generation is one megawatt-hour, the range of generation cost of nuclear power generation to reduce 1% CO₂ emissions is $0.72~$1.49 depending on the level of external costs. In the case of renewable energy generation, the generation cost to reduce 1% CO₂ emissions is $6.49. That is, to mitigate 1% of CO₂ emissions at the total electricity generation of 353 million MWh in 2020 in Korea, the total generation costs range for nuclear power is $254 million~$526 million for the nuclear power, and the cost for renewable energy is $2.289 billion for renewable energy. Hence, we can conclude that, in Korea, nuclear power generation is more cost-efficient than renewable energy generation in mitigating CO₂ emissions, even with the external costs of nuclear power generation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.85-96
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• 2004

This paper is to study on the decommissioning cost estimation for nuclear facilities of advanced nuclear organizations and countries for deriving the cost factors to be taken considerations into accomplishing decommissioning projects. Of cost categories producing the factors of decommissioning costs, dismantling and waste processing & disposals activities are examined to increase the its costs. Of labor, materials and other costs categories, labor costs are summarized to have overall majorities in the decommissioning cost factors. The main parameters of all factors affecting the decommissioning costs are analyzed as work difficulty, regional labor costs, peripheral cost, disposal cost and final burial costs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.25-31
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• 2005

The decommissioning cost estimation is the very essential procedure to establish the decommissioning plans for Nuclear Research Facilities. The cost estimation must be made in accordance with activity phase and facility installations. This paper shows how to configuring the cost items and identifying the effecting cost factors. In the end, these methods will be utilized as a tool and technique to develop the methodology of cost estimation and calculation program.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.218-226
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• 2006

It can be obtained from hydrocarbon and water, specially production of hydrogen from natural gas is most commercial and economical process among the hydrogen production methods, and has been used widely. However, conventional hydrogen production methods are dependent on fossil fuel such as natural gas and coal, and it may be faced with problems such as exhaustion of fossil fuels, production of greenhouse gas and increase of feedstock price. Thermochemical hydrogen production by nuclear energy has potential to efficiently produce large quantities of hydrogen without producing greenhouse gases. However, nuclear hydrogen must be economical comparing with conventional hydrogen production method. Therefore, hydrogen production cost was analyzed and estimated for nuclear hydrogen as well as conventional hydrogen production such as natural gas reforming and coal gasification in various range.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 1997

The specific purpose of this study is to develop the numerical guide for the cost-benefit analysis of ORE ($/person-Sv reduction) to meet the criterion of ALARA in the design stage of the KNGR. In deriving the guide, the risk factor which is defined by the risk to unit collective radiation exposure dose (deaths/person-Sv) and the monetary value of human life ($/death) are required. The risk factor has been estimated from various clinical data accumulated for a number of years and continuously modified. And the monetary value of human life is usually quantified using the human capital approach. In this study, the risk to radiation exposure perceived by a group of people is investigated through an extensive poll survey conducted among university students in order to modify the existing risk factor for radiation exposure. And in evaluating the monetary value of human life, the QOL factor is introduced in order to incorporate the degree of public welfare or quality of life. As a result of study, a value within the range of 151, 000~172, 000 dollars per person-Sv reduction is recommended as the appropriate interim numerical guide for cost-benefit analysis of ORE to meet the criterion of ALARA in the design stage of the KNGR. A poll survey was also conducted in order to see whether the public acceptance cost of nuclear power should be incorporated in developing the guide, and the result of study shooed that such a cost does not need to be considered.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.723-726
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• 2009

As a preliminary study of cost estimates for nuclear hydrogen systems, the hydrogen production costs of the nuclear energy sources benchmarking GT-MHR are estimated in the necessary input data on a Korean specific basis. G4-ECONS developed by EMWG of GIF in 2008 was appropriately modified to calculate the cost for hydrogen production of SI process with VHTR as a thermal energy source rather than the LUEC. The estimated costs presented in this paper show that hydrogen production by the VHTR could be competitive with current techniques of hydrogen production from fossil fuels if $CO_2$ capture and sequestration is required. Nuclear production of hydrogen would allow large-scale production of hydrogen at economic prices while avoiding the release of $CO_2$. Nuclear production of hydrogen could thus become the enabling technology for the hydrogen economy. The major factors that would affect the cost of hydrogen were also discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.655-662
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• 2007

Most decision makers in the electricity industry plan their electric power expansion program by considering only a least cost operation, even when circumstances change with differing complexities. It is necessary, however, to analyze a long-term power expansion plan from various points of view, such as environmental friendliness, benefit of a carbon reduction, and system reliability, as well as least cost operation. The objective and approach of this study is to analyze the proper role of nuclear power in a long-term expansion plan by comparing different scenarios in terms of the system cost changes, $CO_2$ emission reduction, and system reliability in relation to the Business-As-Usual (BAU). The conclusion of this paper makes it clear that the Korean government cannot but expand the nationwide nuclear power program, because an increased energy demand is inevitable and other energy resources will not provide an adequate solution from an economic and sustainability point of view. The results of this analysis will help the Korean government in its long-term resource planning of what kinds of role each electric resource can play in terms of a triangular dilemma involving economics, environmental friendliness, and a stable supply of electricity.