РАСШИРЕНИЕ АТОМНОЙ ГЕНЕРАЦИИ И ЕЕ ВЛИЯНИЕ НА СТОИМОСТЬ ЭЛЕКТРОЭНЕРГИИ В СТРАНАХ БРИКС

Abstract:
The article examines the relationship between the expansion of nuclear generation and the cost of electricity in the BRICS countries (the union of Brazil, Russia, India, China, the Republic of South Africa and the affiliated states). The first hypothesis of the study is that the introduction of new nuclear power units into the energy systems of individual BRICS countries is negatively related to the level of household electricity tariffs, the second hypothesis is that an increase in the share of nuclear generation is associated with a lower tariff, subject to high utilization of units and a regulated return on investment. The empirical base of the study includes data from the Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the commissioning of power units and the share of nuclear generation, comparable GlobalPetrolPrices tariffs, as well as country materials from energy ministries and departments. The results obtained clarify the first hypothesis: the relationship between the introduction of new units and the tariff is absent in the full sample, but acquires the expected negative sign in the subsample of countries with operating nuclear generation. The second hypothesis also requires clarification. A higher atomic share in operating nuclear countries is associated with lower household tariffs after the exclusion of the extremely subsidized value. It is shown that nuclear energy does not affect tariffs automatically, but through the structure of the energy system, the cost of capital, the regulatory regime and the degree of capacity utilization. For countries with operating nuclear generation, a negative relationship was found between the atomic share and the household tariff after the exclusion of extremely subsidized values.