Nuclear power plant model

The nuclear power plant model provides a simple, size-based performance model and a type-based cost model. Cost defaults are intended to be populated from literature, such as Quinn et al. (2023) on SMR LWR techno-economic analysis. See the paper here: Quinn et al. (2023).

To use this model, set the performance model to QuinnNuclearPerformanceModel and the cost model to QuinnNuclearCostModel in your tech_config.

Performance model

The performance model limits electricity production by the rated capacity and an optional demand signal.

Inputs

Name	Shape	Units	Description
system_capacity	scalar	kW	Rated electrical capacity.
electricity_demand	array[n_timesteps]	kW	Optional demand profile; defaults to rated capacity.

Outputs

Name	Shape	Units	Description
electricity_out	array[n_timesteps]	kW	Electricity produced, capped at system_capacity.
rated_electricity_production	scalar	kW	Rated production (capacity).
total_electricity_produced	scalar	kW*h	Sum of production over the simulation.
annual_electricity_produced	array[plant_life]	kW*h/year	Annualized production.
capacity_factor	array[plant_life]	unitless	Ratio of actual to maximum production.
replacement_schedule	array[plant_life]	unitless	Placeholder replacement schedule (zeros).
operational_life	scalar	yr	Operational life (defaults to plant life).

Cost model

The cost model uses direct cost parameters to compute capital and operating costs. It supports optional scaling of capex with size using a reference capacity and scaling exponent.

Inputs

Name	Shape	Units	Description
system_capacity	scalar	kW	Plant capacity used for cost scaling.
electricity_out	array[n_timesteps]	kW	Output from performance model.

Cost parameters (tech_config)

Key	Type	Description
system_capacity_kw	float	Rated electrical capacity (kW).
capex_per_kw	float	Capital cost per kW.
fixed_opex_per_kw_year	float	Fixed O&M per kW per year.
variable_opex_per_mwh	float	Variable O&M per MWh.
reference_capacity_kw	float	Reference capacity for capex scaling (defaults to system_capacity_kw).
capex_scaling_exponent	float	Capex scaling exponent (defaults to 1.0).
cost_year	int	Dollar year for the input costs.

The capex calculation follows:

\[ C_{\text{capex}} = (c_{\text{capex}} \cdot (P / P_{\text{ref}})^{(k-1)}) \cdot P \]

Where \(c_{\text{capex}}\) is capex_per_kw, \(P\) is plant capacity (kW), \(P_{\text{ref}}\) is reference_capacity_kw, and \(k\) is capex_scaling_exponent.

Outputs

Name	Shape	Units	Description
CapEx	scalar	USD	Total capital expenditure.
OpEx	scalar	USD/year	Fixed plus variable O&M.
VarOpEx	array[plant_life]	USD/year	Variable O&M (repeated each year).
cost_year	scalar	year	Dollar year of costs.

Example tech_config

technologies:
  nuclear:
    performance_model:
      model: "QuinnNuclearPerformanceModel"
    cost_model:
      model: "QuinnNuclearCostModel"
    model_inputs:
      performance_parameters:
        system_capacity_kw: 300000.0
        capacity_factor: 0.9
      cost_parameters:
        system_capacity_kw: 450000.0
        capex_per_kw: 6000.0
        fixed_opex_per_kw_year: 120.0
        variable_opex_per_mwh: 2.5
        reference_capacity_kw: 300000.0
        capex_scaling_exponent: 0.9
        cost_year: 2023

References

• Quinn, J. et al., 2023. Small modular reactor light water reactor techno-economic analysis. Applied Energy 120669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.120669