On a first reading of these facts (figures 1 and 2) one may get the impression that nuclear energy is a rather low cost source and, even more important, that it is practically the best in terms of negative externalities, i.e. of CO₂ emissions, both with respect to the older LWR technology and to the newer PWR one.

Figure 2

Source : European Environmental Agency (2008), ‘EN35 External costs of electricity production’, available on http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/en35-external-costs-of-electricity-production-1

Moreover it has been argued that the reduction in the Italian costs of electricity production (such costs are incidentally higher than the European average) would be substantial, around 20% according to ENEL (based on undisclosed sources).

We shall now read these facts less superficially and in reverse order, beginning with the asserted 20% reduction in production costs. Actually, according to a more transparent, though rough, estimation by Alberto Clò[1], costs’ reduction would vary in a range from 2% to 5%. The social benefits may be quite lower but still positive. The problem is then to investigate who benefits from the cost reduction: the producers or the consumers.

^Note

1.  Alberto Clo, Si fa presto a dire nucleare, Il Mulino, 2010.↑

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