About economic competitiveness of Small Modular Reactor with accident tolerant fuel. Part 1

DOI: 10.33917/mic-4.123.2025.62-69

The method of analytical calculation of the microeconomic criteria of investment efficiency into PWR Small Modular Reactor is presented as depending on the engineering, physical and economic parameters of the reactor. This method is convenient for multi-variant preliminary searches of acceptable criteria for SMR competitiveness. As a prototype SMR reactor is being considered RITM-200N with a period of 6 years of continuous work (before fuel overload) and the use of tolerant fuels, accident-resistant, consisting of metal ceramic composition in a chromium-nickel alloy shell (42XHM). The results of calculations of the relationship between engineering and physical parameters of the reactor, electricity costs and the payback period for investments are given.

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Potential for Nuclear Energy Development in Uzbekistan

DOI: 10.33917/es-1.193.2024.26-35

The article examines the prospects for hydrocarbon, renewable and nuclear energy in Uzbekistan. Results of forecasting the dynamics of oil, gas and uranium production until the middle of the 21st century and then are presented. The authors substantiate the conclusion that nuclear generation, having economic and environmental advantages, is competitive in the long term only if two-component nuclear energy is developed due to the exhaustibility of uranium in Uzbekistan.

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Desperate Importance of Nuclear Renaissance for the Future of Japan

DOI: 10.33917/es-1.193.2024.18-25

Article explains current status of the Japanese nuclear industry as for mid 2023. It unveils political and economic factors and directions of its renaissance 12 year after the Fukushima Dai-Ichi NPP disaster in 2011. The contradiction of this process and the declared by the Japanese government Green Transformation (GX) initiative is underlined. Article lists limits of political, economic, technological and social nature which will define the actual success of the proposed nuclear program. Creation of the industrial and technological as well as political and social base of the fusion energy and fusion manufacturing industries is considered as the strategic reason for pushing the nuclear renaissance through these limits, as the way to the global leadership and domination of the Japanese ‘Society 5.0’. Special attention is paid to the strong will of the Japanese government to pragmatically sacrifices democratic values, concentrate all available resources, and set ambitious targets to win in this sumo fight and be first to build ‘thermonuclear Japan’. Also the specific side of the nuclear energy development — building up the Japanese nuclear weapon potential — is considered as the way to mitigate both geo- and technopolitical risks.

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