Electricity generating costs when changing from the PWR to the APWR

There has been a great deal of discussion recently about the advanced pressurized water reactor as a successor to the present life of pressurized water reactors prior to the introduction of the fast breeder line. The basic underlying idea is the rise in the conversion ratio to 0.9-0.95 by means of spectrum hardening achieved as a result of a reduced moderator fraction. Aside from all technical problems it is assumed that an advanced pressurized water reactor is technically feasible and will be licensed. For a utility company the first question arising is that of the reduction of costs of a kilowatthour of electricity generated in the advanced reactor as against a classic pressurized water reactor. More specifically, the point of interest is the uranium price level from which an advanced pressurized water reactor with its higher conversion ratio is able to reduce the electricity generating costs compared to a present pressurized water reactor. (orig.)