Nuclear Science and Engineering

Energy Market Analysis

Assessing the Competitiveness of Nuclear Energy in the U.S. Grid Markets

Argonne is leading energy market economics modeling to support decision makers and nuclear utilities. The Nuclear Applications & Economics (NAE) group uses and is developing additional capabilities for the A-LEAF electricity market simulation code, developed within the Argonne Energy Systems and Infrastructure Assessment division, to solve the combined Capacity Expansion and Economic Dispatch problems and find the optimal deployment of generating units to meet the forecasted grid demand in deregulated markets with a sub-hourly time resolution. The NAE group is also developing an agent-based simulation module for A-LEAF: this tool enables analysis of realistic market systems consisting of multiple or numerous independent utility actors, and provide insight into factors such as the impact of construction risk on nuclear economic viability and utility preferences on reactor size. This multi-laboratory effort is supported by the System Analysis and Integration campaign of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy.

 References:

  • Nicolas E. Stauff, Josh Koons, Ed Hoffman, Anton Moisseytsev, Ryan Dailey, Jill Ptak, Claudio Filippone, John Busch, ​“Competitiveness Assessment of Decarbonizing Electricity and Process Heat Supply to a Campus with a Small Nuclear Reactor,” ICAPP, Las Vegas, 2024.
  • Nahuel Guaita, Abdalla Abou-Jaoude, Levi M. Larsen, Nicolas E. Stauff, ​“Updating Nuclear Energy Cost Estimates for Net Zero World Initiative,” PBNC, 2024.
  • Guenter Conzelmann, Nicolas Stauff, Michael Kintner-Meyer, David McCollum, ​“Integrated System Analysis to identify decarbonization pathways and no-regret investment strategies to accelerate just transitions toward clean, resilient, and climate-neutral energy systems”, Proceedings of Second International Conference on Climate Change and the role of Nuclear Power 2023: Atoms4NetZero, October 2023, IAEA-CN-315/162.
  • W. Neal Mann, Zhi Zhou, Nicolas E. Stauff, ​“Market-Driven Competitiveness of U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Through 2035,” Proceedings of the ANS Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 2023.
  • W. N. Mann and Nicolas E. Stauff, ​“The Role of Nuclear Energy in Reducing System Costs of U.S. Electricity Grid Decarbonization” Proceedings of the ANS Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 2023.
  • N. Stauff, W. Neal Mann, Anton Moisseytsev, Venkat Durvasulu, Hari Mantripragada, Timothy Fout, ​“Assessment of nuclear energy to support negative emission technologies,” ANL/NSE-23/33, July 19, 2023.
  • Kathryn Biegel and Nicolas Stauff, ​“Impact of Transportation Electrification Demand and Charging Schedules on Electricity Markets and Nuclear Generators,” ANL/NSE-22/2, September 30, 2022.
  • W. Neal Mann, Nicolas E. Stauff, Katie Biegel, Todd Levin, Jordan D. Rader, Arantxa Cuadra, Son H. Kim, ​“Reactor Power Size Impacts on Nuclear Competitiveness in a Carbon-Constrained Future,” ANS Winter Meeting, 2021. 
  • N. Stauff, K. Biegel, T. Levin, A. Botterud, J. Richards, A. Cuadra, S. Kim, etc. ​“Daily Market Analysis of Load Following and Storage Impacts,” ANL/NSE-20/44, September 30, 2020.
  • Katie Biegel, Nicolas E. Stauff, Todd Levin, Taek K. Kim, and Temitope A. Taiwo, ​“Economic Ramifications of Nuclear Load-Following in ERCOT under High Renewables Penetration and Energy Policies”, proceedings of ANS Winter Meeting, November 2020.
  • R. Ponciroli, N. E. Stauff, J. Ramsey, F. Ganda and R. B. Vilim, ​“An Improved Genetic Algorithm approach to the Unit Commitment/Economic Dispatch problem,” in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, April 2020.
  • N. Stauff, G. Maronati, P. Talbot, A. Cuadra, R. Ponciroli, T. K. Kim, B. Dixon, T. A. Taiwo, ​“Energy Market Simulation Tools to Assess Competitiveness of Nuclear Power Plants,” proceedings of Global 2019, Seattle, WA, September 2019.
  • N. Stauff, G. Maronati, R. Ponciroli, F. Ganda, T. Kim, T. Taiwo (ANL), A. Cuadra, M. Todosow (BNL), P. Talbot, C. Rabiti, B. Dixon (INL), S. Kim (PNNL), ​“Daily Market Analysis Capability and Results,” ANL/NSE-19/5, 2019.