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Implementing nuclear power plants (NPPs): state of the art, challenges, and opportunities

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Abstract

Energy savings are a key issue in modern society. Nuclear energy may be a solution to provide clean power. Nuclear power plants (NPPs) use nuclear fission to generate electricity. There are numerous challenges to overcome for successful implementation of NPPs. This study presents an up-to-date overview of the principal research topics and trends within the NPP research domain, with the purpose of identifying opportunities and obstacles in NPP projects. Some of the challenges, including technological challenges, economic challenges, institutional/governance challenges, and social challenges, are examined, and the future of NPPs is discussed, including (i) the history of NPPs; (ii) the benefits of NPPs; (iii) major challenges in NPP construction; (iv) a review of the current state of the art for implementing NPPs; (v) the most important opportunity for implementing NPPs; (vi) the economics (life cycle costing) of nuclear energy; (vii) a comparison of NPP and renewable energy operations; (viii) different operational constraints for NPPs compared to other power plants; and (ix) nuclear energy for sustainable development. Issues in NPP construction and possible solutions are also addressed.

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Acknowledgements

The author, Hosam Elhegazy, gratefully acknowledge support from Future University in Egypt (FUE) and University of Cincinnati (UC).

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  1. Structural Engineering and Construction Management Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Future University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt

    Hosam Elhegazy

  2. Structural Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mariam Kamal

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  1. Hosam Elhegazy
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Correspondence to Hosam Elhegazy.

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Elhegazy, H., Kamal, M. Implementing nuclear power plants (NPPs): state of the art, challenges, and opportunities. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 7, 11 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-021-00611-z

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