Generating cost and economic feature of nuclear power

Since the operation of the first LWR power plant in 1970, presently 21 LWR power plants have entered in practical operation. During this period of eleven years, the power generation in Japan has increased by about 90% along with the growth in GNP. In order for the economy of nuclear power generation to take root, the reduction of the accident and failure rates of the nuclear power plants is the most important, which is at the same time the only way of gaining the public acceptance. This fact is being proved currently by the rise in plant factor. The power costs according to sources are: in 1981, 11.1 Per kWh for nuclear energy and 19.8 For petroleum, and in 1985, by prediction, 14.5 And 25.4, Respectively. (Mori, K.)