U.S. merchant nuclear power plants are losing money selling power into wholesale electricity markets. Two have retired early and more than a dozen are threatened. A recent state regulatory deal to save Davis Besse is promising, but faces challenges. The complicated cases and decisions discussed here are
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Summer in Washington DC Hot weather and a more relaxed approach, including this Commentary – 17 interesting things about nuclear power, with pictures. See Buzz Feed Post 1. Sendai restart! Earlier this week (on 11 August 2015), the Sendai 1 nuclear power reactor was restarted
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Merchant nuclear projects, created by U.S. electricity industry reform, sell power into electricity markets. Two merchant nuclear projects closed early (and permanently) in 2013 due to financial losses and others may retire early because of losses. Should the U.S. government to take action to prevent the early
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Nuclear Cash Flow Nuclear power investments require an adequate, certain, and long-term source of revenue. In the past, revenue certainty came from traditional government/regulated electricity models. In liberalized electricity markets, other approaches for revenue certainty are required. My 4 February 2015 WNN editorial was about the uncertain
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Vermont Yankee nuclear power station The Vermont Yankee nuclear power station closed permanently on 29 Dec 2014. The closure of this well-maintained nuclear power plant with decades of remaining life was entirely due to the difficult economics of operating in a U.S. electricity market. The U.S. experience
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2013 PJM Load Duration Curve Nuclear power plants are base load generators – due to economics. NECG Commentary #3 explains base load generation, the economic reasons that nuclear power plants operate in base load mode, and the capability of nuclear power plants to operate flexibly. Base Load
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Electricity Industry Activity It takes up to 10 years to develop and build a new nuclear power plant that will then operate for 60 years or longer. Electricity markets and financial markets do not easily accommodate these long-term nuclear power plant assets. Nuclear power plant value is
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