The Technological and Economic Future of Nuclear Power

This open access book discusses the eroding economics of nuclear power for electricity generation as well as technical, legal, and political acceptance issues. The use of nuclear power for electricity generation is still a heavily disputed issue. Aside from technical risks, safety issues, and the unsolved problem of nuclear waste disposal, the economic performance is currently a major barrier. In recent years, the costs have skyrocketed especially in the European countries and North America. At the same time, the costs of alternatives such as photovoltaics and wind power have significantly decreased. ContentsHistory and Current Status of the World Nuclear IndustryThe Dramatic Decrease of the Economics of Nuclear PowerNuclear Policy in the EU The Legacy of Csernobyl and FukushimaNuclear Waste and Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants Alternatives: Heading Towards Sustainable Electricity SystemsTarget GroupsResearchers and students in the fields of political, economic and technical sciencesEnergy (policy) experts, nuclear energy experts and practitioners, economists, engineers, consultants, civil society organizationsThe EditorsProf. Dr. Reinhard Haas is University Professor of energy economics at the Institute of Energy Systems and Electric Drives at Technische Universität Wien, Austria. PD Dr. Lutz Mez is Associate Professor at the Department for Political and Social Sciences of Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.PD Dr. Amela Ajanovic is a senior researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Energy Systems and Electrical Drives at Technische Universität Wien, Austria.