Foundations of Nuclear Energy Economics Course

About the Course

Understanding the economics of nuclear energy is essential for making informed decisions about project development, investment, operations, and policy. This one-day Foundations of Nuclear Energy Economics Course provides a practical introduction to the financial principles that shape the competitiveness and long-term value of nuclear power. Participants will explore core economic concepts, including the key components and drivers of nuclear capital costs, operations and maintenance (O&M) expenses, fuel cost structures, and the funding mechanisms that support decommissioning and radioactive waste management.

Through real-world examples and hands-on exercises, attendees will learn how to evaluate and compare the economic performance of different reactor technologies, calculate Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), and apply financial tools such as Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). The course also examines cost sensitivity analysis, system-level costs, and the value nuclear energy provides to electric grids through reliability, resilience, and integration with other generation sources. Whether you are an engineer, analyst, project manager, regulator, or energy professional, this course will equip you with the knowledge and analytical tools needed to assess nuclear energy projects and understand their role in today's evolving energy landscape.

Registration Fees

Space is limited so register soon! Fees include breakfast and lunch. If you plan on attending the Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX), please register for NECX separately.

On or before July 31

ANS and NEI Members: $595
(NEI members: Contact askanything@ans.org for special code before you register)

Nonmembers: $895

After July 31

ANS and NEI Members: $695

Nonmembers: $995

Registration cancellations received on or before July 31, 2026 are subject to a $200 processing fee.

No refunds will be issued after July 31, 2026. A substitute attendee may be sent in your place up until the start of the conference.

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to askanything@ans.org

Course Schedule

Schedule is tentative and subject to change.

7:30 – 8:00 am
Breakfast

8:00 – 8:30 am
Introductions and Course Overview

8:30 – 10:00 am
Module 1 - Nuclear Energy Economics for Power Generation

10:00 – 10:15 am
Break

10:15 am – Noon
Module 1 - Nuclear Energy Economics for Power Generation (continued)

Noon – 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 – 2:45 pm
Module 2 - Economic Metrics and Modeling

2:45 – 3:00 pm
Break

3:00 – 4:45 pm
Module 2 - Economic Metrics and Modeling (continued)

4:45 – 5:00 pm
Course Conclusion

Instructors & Course Developers

Temi Adeyeye
Temi is a nuclear systems engineer and consultant with over 20 years of experience spanning advanced reactor design, plant engineering, and regulatory integration. He has held key roles at major nuclear organizations supporting new build programs, fuel handling systems, and commissioning activities across both Gen III+ and advanced reactor technologies. Temi is actively involved with the American Nuclear Society, where he contributes to workforce development, nuclear economics education, and strategic initiatives including civilian maritime nuclear applications. His work focuses on bridging engineering, policy, and market frameworks—helping translate complex nuclear technologies into practical, financeable energy solutions.

Iza Lantgios
Iza is a nuclear engineer at Idaho National Laboratory specializing in integrated energy systems and technoeconomic analysis. Her research combines thermal systems analysis, cost estimation, and economic analysis to evaluate non-grid applications for nuclear power, including data centers, hydrogen production, direct air capture, and synthetic fuel production. She also specializes in nuclear plant cost estimation, including capital and operating cost projections and cost reduction strategies. Iza is actively involved with the American Nuclear Society, having held multiple leadership roles on both the local and national level. Iza earned her PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Ryan Spangler
Ryan received the BS and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, in 2018 and 2024, respectively. He is currently with the Idaho National Laboratory, in the Department of Plant Optimization as an Instrumentation and Controls Engineer. His research interests include risk-informed decision-making, economics of nuclear reactors, construction overrun modeling, prognostics and health management, predictive maintenance, control systems, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Sola Talabi
Sola is a nuclear engineering professional with experience from Westinghouse Electric Company and Pittsburgh Technical. He is currently an adjunct professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Michigan and previously taught at Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh. His expertise spans advanced reactor engineering, safety, risk management, and project delivery. Sola holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, and a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. He was a committee member on the National Academies of Sciences committee on advanced nuclear deployment. Sola managed risks on the Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear plants in Sanmen and Haiyang (China) and V.C. Summer and Vogtle (USA). Sola’s research interests include the design, modeling, and validation of safety-related systems for advanced reactors, supporting their deployment in non-traditional locations such as developing countries. He has over 39 publications on nuclear power and engineering topics.

Course Objectives

By the end of this module, learners will be able to explain the fundamental economic components of nuclear power generation and compare the cost structures across reactor classes using key financial metrics.

Module 1 - Nuclear Energy Economics for Power Generation

1.) Define Core Economic Concepts in Nuclear Power

Given an overview of energy economics, learners will be able to:

• Distinguish between capital, operational, fuel, decommissioning, and back-end costs in nuclear power.
• Explain the significance of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR) in project evaluation.

2.) Analyze the Components and Drivers of Nuclear Capital Costs

Given case data on reactor projects, learners will be able to:

• Identify the major components of nuclear capital costs (e.g., engineering, construction, licensing, financing).
• Evaluate how project duration, interest during construction (IDC), and financing models impact total capital cost.
• Compare capital cost trends between large light-water reactors (LWRs) and advanced designs (e.g., SMRs).

3.) Evaluate O&M and Fuel Cost Structures

Given operational cost data, learners will be able to:

• Differentiate between fixed and variable O&M costs in nuclear plants.
• Assess the economic advantages of nuclear fuel price stability and high energy density.
• Describe the impact of fuel cycle length and outage frequency on plant economics.

4.) Explain Decommissioning and Waste Management Funding Mechanisms

Given regulatory and financial frameworks, learners will be able to:

• Outline the long-term financial obligations associated with decommissioning and radioactive waste management.
• Describe common funding mechanisms (e.g., external sinking funds, government liabilities).
• Interpret how these back-end costs are internalized in economic planning.

5.) Compare Economic Forecasts and Performance Across Reactor Classes

Given comparative data on LWRs, SMRs, and microreactors, learners will be able to:

• Contrast capital intensity, scalability, and siting flexibility across reactor types.
• Discuss the trade-offs between economies of scale and modular factory fabrication.
• Evaluate the potential for SMRs and microreactors to reduce financial risk and enable new markets.

Module 2 - Economic Metrics and Modeling

By the end of this module, learners will be able to apply key economic metrics and modeling techniques to assess the financial viability of nuclear and non-nuclear power generation projects, and compare alternatives under varying assumptions and externalities.

1.) Define and Calculate Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE)

Given a set of capital, O&M, fuel, and financing inputs, learners will be able to:

• Explain the concept of LCOE and its role in technology comparison.
• Apply the LCOE formula to calculate the cost per MWh for a nuclear or fossil plant.
• Identify key assumptions (discount rate, capacity factor, plant life) that influence LCOE results.
• Recognize limitations of LCOE (e.g., exclusion of system costs, intermittency).

2.) Evaluate Projects Using Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

Given a project cash flow profile, learners will be able to:

• Explain the time value of money and the purpose of discounting.
• Calculate NPV using a specified discount rate and interpret the result (positive = viable, negative = not viable).
• Determine IRR and use it to compare investment opportunities.
• Apply payback period analysis and contrast it with NPV/IRR for long-term projects like nuclear.

3.) Conduct Cost Sensitivity Analysis

Given a base-case economic model, learners will be able to:

• Identify key drivers of project cost uncertainty (e.g., construction delay, discount rate, fuel price volatility).
• Perform one-way and two-way sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of variable changes on LCOE or NPV.
• Interpret tornado diagrams or spider plots to prioritize risk mitigation efforts.
• Explain how nuclear projects are more sensitive to schedule and financing than to fuel costs.

4.) Assess System Costs and Grid Integration Value

Given a mix of dispatchable and intermittent generation, learners will be able to:

• Define system costs (e.g., backup capacity, grid reinforcement, cycling penalties).
• Compare the reliability value of nuclear (baseload) vs. variable renewables (solar, wind).
• Explain the economic tradeoffs of intermittency, including curtailment and the need for storage or peaking plants.
• Discuss how capacity credit and avoided cost metrics reflect grid value.

5.) Incorporate Externalities into Economic Comparisons

Given environmental and social cost data, learners will be able to:

• Define externalities (e.g., carbon emissions, air pollution, land use) and explain why they are often excluded from private cost calculations.
• Apply carbon pricing (e.g., $50/ton CO2) to levelize costs across technologies.
• Compare lifecycle emissions of nuclear, coal, gas, and renewables using published data (e.g., IPCC, IEA).
• Evaluate the impact of including externalities on technology rankings and policy decisions.

Hotel Reservations

Reserve your room at the Hilton Anatole, the host of this course and the Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo. Discounted rates are available through July 31. Reserve your room

The Hilton Anatole is located at 2201 N Stemmons Fwy, in Dallas, Texas.

Questions

Please contact askanything@ans.org for any questions related to the course.