Power generation choices: an international perspective on costs, risks and externalities

In France, as in other countries, it is no longer possible to discuss issues relating to the power or electricity generating sector without taking account of a wide range of sociological, political and environmental factors. Given the uncertainty regarding either the short-or long-term impact of such factors, analysts can no longer rely on forecasts and need to adopt an approach based on the use of extremely wide-ranging scenarios. Many researchers are currently examining ways in which these factors might be incorporated into economic calculations in the form of externalities. Such externalities cannot be properly taken into account, however, until we have reliable methods and databases with which to quantify them. At present they are taken into account implicitly. Thus the extensive nuclear power programme launched by the French Government in the 1970s was aimed at securing advantages in both economic and environmental terms. These advantages may be seen today in the structure of France's energy supply. (authors). 1 tab