Abstract
This chapter documents the technical development of different generations of nuclear power plants and provides an outlook for possible future concepts and their market prospects. The objective is to assess whether there is really significant technological progress on the horizon and whether these “new” concepts have prospects to become cost-effective. A major conclusion is that most of the so-called Generation IV concepts have already been discussed in the 1950s. At that time, they have not been pursued further due to problems such as costs, limiting factors in material properties and problems in appropriately controlling the fission processes. Yet, since about 2000 a modest revival of the discussion on these concepts is observed, obviously mainly motivated by securing the flow of public money for nuclear research and the broad recognition that with present reactor concepts the nuclear industry will not succeed.
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Reinberger, D., Ajanovic, A., Haas, R. (2019). The Technological Development of Different Generations and Reactor Concepts. In: Haas, R., Mez, L., Ajanovic, A. (eds) The Technological and Economic Future of Nuclear Power. Energiepolitik und Klimaschutz. Energy Policy and Climate Protection. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-25987-7_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-25987-7_11
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