No abstract available

[en] This paper starts from the assumption that, for various reasons, the supply of OPEC oil required to meet a rising world energy demand will continue to be limited. Its purpose is to present a synoptic look at the various sources of energy which are alternatives to OPEC oil, with an economic commentary on the prospects for each source. A wide variety of projects are going forward for the development of non-OPEC oil, gas, coal, and nuclear power, as well as renewable energy resources. Special attention is devoted to questions of energy pricing, investment costs, and sources of finance. (author)

[en] In an earlier article the author has argued that the turbulent history of nuclear power in Britain and the USA stems from the technology itself, and has little to do with the very different institutional arrangements made for the new technology in the two countries. Nuclear plant has various features which make its planning extraordinarily difficult. Its long lead time, large unit size, capital intensity and dependence on complex infrastructure combine to ensure that mistakes are likely to be made in planning the technology and that what mistakes do occur are expensive. This article aims to expand on the earlier one in two ways; by looking at the apparent success of the French nuclear programme which seems to run counter to the thesis of the earlier article, and by trying to draw lessons from the earlier analysis for the breeder reactor. (author)

[en] Political and environmental protest is putting severe pressure on West Germany's nuclear programme, which has already been scaled down by a third on the ambitious targets set in 1974. This in turn puts pressure on the relatively limited supplies of other indigenous fuels and in the longer term could affect growth, and perhaps even political stability, in what is now Western Europe's strongest economy. (author)

[en] Economies of scale are highly significant for conventional light water nuclear power plants, but large units have become very difficult to finance for US utilities. If a small reactor with not quite such an unfavourable scaling factor could be designed, would it find a market. A modelling exercise, in which a hypothetical utility meets its capacity needs by building either 400 MW or 1200 MW nuclear plants, suggests that it might, under the right conditions. The model showed that the economies of scale of large plants tend to be overcome by financing difficulties which are avoided if small units are built. A small reactor would not be in the market alone, however. Competing with it would be other fuels and technologies, as well as the options of joint ownership of large plants, and purchased power. (author)

[en] The CEGB regularly publishes figures for generation costs per kilowatt hour (kWh) at Magnox and several coal and oil stations. These have been criticized by Select Committees and most recently by Professor Jeffery for being expressed in historic cost accounting terms rather than in constant price terms. How the economic performance of Magnox reactors can best be judged is discussed. Headings are: post audit of past investment; future investment choice; inflation corrected assets. (author)

[en] Optimal timing of the introduction of the FBR is very sensitive to factors such as the availability of low-cost uranium, future energy demands and the possibility of the introduction of yet more advanced technology. To a lesser extent it is also sensitive to the relative capital cost of fast breeder and thermal nuclear plants. The relationship between R and D costs and the programme timing is also crucial in deciding optimisation. (author)

[en] The author sees the Inquiry as the latest in a line arising from government's wish to achieve greater public participation in controversial decisions. He believes that the Sizewell Inquiry is unlikely to shake the public out of its apathy, while a decision that goes against them will not satisfy the objectors. The concept of the Inquiry is based on the belief that the legal process will unearth objective truth, while most of the issues are matters of opinion and judgement. The wide-ranging terms of reference are leading to constitutional anomalies and attempts to take on Herculean tasks in the search for objective truth. However, while concluding that an Inquiry Commission adopting a legal approach and following courtroom procedures is not a satisfactory way of dealing with large-scale technological projects, the author finds it hard to suggest alternatives short of more direct parliamentary control. (author)

[en] Iran's new government has not yet made a final decision about the fate of that country's once ambitious nuclear power programme. If the programme is kept alive, it will be limited to the completion of at most one or two of the reactors that were already well underway when the revolution broke out. The author traces the origins and growth of the Iranian nuclear power programme between 1974 and 1978, summarizes the principal economic, infrastructural, and political criticisms of the programme as originally planned, discusses the potential for greater use of natural gas as an alternative and, finally, recommends a long, detailed reassessment of Iran's energy options. (author)

[en] Since 1973 energy has been in the forefront of international discussions about the political implications of supply and prices, especially as these factors affect the developing countries which are heavily dependent on imports (the OIDC). The history and organization of the Paris Conference of International Economic Cooperation (CIEC) is traced. It is argued that problems of the OIDC, largely resulting from the fact that they have not been fully recognized, point to the need for an international institutional mechanism for energy to go beyond the capacities of existing organizations. The functions and organizational structure of the projected International Energy Institution are considered and compared with those of the IAEA which presently deals exclusively with nuclear energy aspects. (U.K.)