This report, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), provides a comprehensive set of cost data supporting studies for the relative economic comparison of nuclear fuel cycle options for use in the DOE Systems Analysis and Integration (SA&I) Campaign. The report describes the SA&I cost basis development process, reference information, a procedure for estimating fuel cycle costs, economic evaluation guidelines, and a discussion on the integration of cost data into economic computer models. Cost data spans the beginning of the fuel cycle with mining and milling through to waste disposal and disposition.
Different from earlier versions that were published as a single report, the most recent version includes a series of cost modules. These break down the report into digestible sections, broken up by unit operations and reactor types. These were developed in the areas of natural uranium mining and milling, thorium mining and milling, conversion, enrichment, depleted uranium disposition, and more (see figure).
The last external edition was published in 2017, but the newest modulated report was published in 2021. As new cost bases become available, corresponding cost modules will be published as needed.
Cost modules are in various stages of release. Modules that have been cleared for public release are linked to the current version of the document. Modules that have not yet been cleared for public release will link is to the 2017 version.
Questions about this report or the SA&I economic analysis should be directed to Jason Hansen at Idaho National Laboratory or Ed Hoffman at Argonne National Laboratory.
