Economic features of integral, modular, small-to-medium size reactors

The renewed interest towards nuclear energy is largely based on the escalation of fossil fuels prices and the global warming concerns. The nuclear option has to face not only the public opinion sensibility, mainly related to plant safety and waste disposal issues, but also the economic evaluation from investors and utilities, particularly careful on that energy source and in deregulated markets. Smaller size nuclear reactors (IAEA defines as “small” those reactors with power