Role of nuclear option in sustainable power system planning in Croatia

To support the projected economic growth, electricity consumption in Croatia should rise by an average annual rate of at least 2.3% till the year 2030. After examining the potentials of new renewable energy sources (wind and solar energy and biomass) for large-scale electricity generation, projections of the required new generating capacities are made and possible developing scenarios of Croatian power system created. Nuclear and non-nuclear expansion options are analyzed, and optimal capacity and generation mixes are found on the basis of annual production costs and the assumption that the natural gas availability is limited. Emissions of SO2, NOx, particulates and CO2 to the atmosphere in both options are calculated. Apart from that, it is analyzed how the hypothetical introduction of a CO2 emission charge would affect the optimal capacity mix. (author)