The scope: The one-day, nine-hour course will be broken into two broad modules.
Module 1, Nuclear Energy Economics for Power Generation, covers defining core economic concepts in nuclear power, analyzing the components and drivers of nuclear capital costs, evaluating O&M and fuel cost structures, explaining decommissioning and waste management funding mechanisms, and comparing economic forecasts and performance across reactor classes.
Module 2, Economic Metrics and Modeling, covers defining and calculating levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), evaluating projects using net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR), conducting cost sensitivity analysis, assessing system costs and grid integration value, and incorporating externalities into economic comparisons.
By the end of both modules, participants will be able to explain the fundamental economic components of nuclear power generation, compare cost structures across reactor classes, and apply economic metrics and modeling to assess the financial viability of projects.
Other ANS courses: In addition to Foundations of Nuclear Economics, ANS has developed and released three other certificate courses. Nuclear 101 is an in-person, 32-hour survey of the essentials of nuclear energy and technology, which will next be offered in November at the 2026 ANS Winter Conference & Expo. The second is Nuclear Licensing & Regulation, a 16-hour, self-paced online exploration of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the industry. The third, Radioactive Waste Management, was held for the first time at last year’s ANS Winter Conference & Expo and covers the foundational aspects of waste management.
Next steps: To register for Foundations of Nuclear Energy Economics and learn more about its schedule, scope, instructors, and objectives, visit the ANS website.
