This open access book offers a comprehensive overview of nuclear technologies and the nuclear supply chain. It explores nuclear energy as a critical resource through economic, geopolitical, and social lenses, assessing its potential role in combating climate change. The book also addresses key challenges, including nuclear waste management, decommissioning, and back-end operations. By examining both historical hurdles and future policy and industry obstacles, it provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and industry professionals navigating the evolving landscape of nuclear energy.

Provides a unique overview of the complex nuclear power system and supply chain Is open access book, which means that you have free and unlimited access Explores the extent to which nuclear energy can help combat climate change Highlights the challenges of nuclear power plant decommissioning and nuclear waste management

Autorentext

Alexander Wimmers is a research associate in the AT-OM research group at the Workgroup for Economic and Infrastructure Policy (WIP) at the Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin), Germany, and a guest researcher at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin). Alexander Wimmers worked as a consultant for renewable energy markets at a renowned energy consulting firm in Berlin.

Fanny Böse is a researcher at the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE), where she also conducts her PhD research in collaboration with the Workgroup of Economic and Infrastructure Policy (WIP) at Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin).

Claudia Kemfert has been the head of the Department of Energy, Transportation, Environment at the German Institute of Economic Research (DIW Berlin) since April 2004; she is also a professor of energy economics and energy policy at the Leuphana University. Previous positions include a professor of energy economics and sustainability at Hertie School of Governance and a professor of environmental economics at Humboldt University.

Christian von Hirschhausen is a professor of economics at the Workgroup for Economic and Infrastructure Policy (WIP) at Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin) and a research director at DIW Berlin (German Institute for Economic Research). He was previously the chair of Energy Economics and Public Sector Management University of Technology (TU Dresden).

Inhalt

Introduction.- Nuclear Physics and Reactor Technologies.- Nuclear Power: A System Good Analysis.- The System Good Nuclear Fusion Organizational Approaches and Two Case Studies on Magnetic Confinement Fusion.- Nuclear Power and Geopolitical Conflicts An Overview and a Classification of Nuclear Countries World-Wide.- Nuclear Power Plays: Complexities of Armament, Disarmament, and (Non-)Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.- Game Theoretical Considerations of Nuclear
Armament.- Assessing Market Concentrations in the Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain.- Nuclear Diplomacy: Analyzing Russian Foreign New Build Projects.- Economics of Nuclear Fission Power Plants A Levelized Costs of Electricity Approach.- The First Nuclear Century: A Long-term Analysis of Nuclear Reactor Development in the US (1939-2024).- Uncovering Hidden Nuclear Subsidies and Other Forms of State Support.- The Economic Value of Plutonium.- Partitioning and Transmutation Technical Overview and Discussion of Critical Issues.