On the dynamics of Photovoltaics vs Nuclear power

Abstract

In the last decade the dynamic development of Photovoltaics (PV) vs Nuclear was tremendously different. While PV starting at very low levels of installed capacity and high costs increased its capacities considerably and managed to bring down the costs remarkably with respect to nuclear the situation was vice versa: capacities stagnated and costs increased. In this paper we analyze the comparative dynamics especially of economics and try to identify the future prospects for capacity increases. An important role in this context play the discussion of upfront investments, construction times, interest rates and corresponding generation costs.