On the Economic Efficiency of Nuclear Power Digitization under the Conditions of Global Energy Transition

Abstract—: The paper proposes an analytical methodology for assessing the effectiveness of investments in the digitalization of the design, construction and operation of energy facilities (using the example of nuclear power plants) under the conditions of a global energy transition. It is shown that the transition to renewable energy is due not so much to climate problems as to the awareness of the exhaustibility of hydrocarbon fuels. Increasing competition between carbon-free energy sources (wind, solar, hydropower, nuclear energy) makes it necessary to use as efficiency criteria a reduction in the cost and time of construction of nuclear power plants, as well as an increase in the quality and safety of operation of power units throughout the entire service life. The presented results of assessing the impact of investments in the digitalization of the design and construction of nuclear power plants on the levelized cost of electricity and operating costs show the possible boundaries of the costs of digitalization. © 2023, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.