NEA Mandates and Structures
Working Party on Nuclear Energy Economics (WPNE)
| Chair(s): |
William D'HAESELEER, Belgium
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Secretary: |
Jan Horst KEPPLER
(jan-horst.keppler@oecd-nea.org)
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| Member(s): | All NEA member countries* |
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| Russia (Suspended*) |
| *Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council. |
| Full participant(s): |
European Commission
Under the NEA Statute
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| Observer(s)(International Organisation): |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
By agreement
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| Date of creation: | 12 November 2007 |
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| End of mandate: | 31 December 2025 |
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Mandate (Document reference):
- Summary Record of the 53rd meeting of the Committee for Technical and Economic Studies on Nuclear Energy [NEA/NDC(2007)12, Item 5, para. 20] and Proposals for the NDC Programme of Work [NEA/NDC(2008)1]
- Mandate – Working Party on Nuclear Energy Economics (WPNE) [NEA/NDC(2007)4/REV1]
- Mandate – Working Party on Nuclear Energy Economics (WPNE) [NEA/NDC(2011)1]
- Mandate extended: NDC 61st Meeting – Final Summary Record [NEA/NDC(2012)23/REV2]
- Summary Record of the 10th Meeting of the Working Party on Nuclear Energy Economics (WPNE) [NEA/NDC(2013)31/FINAL]
- Summary Record of the 62nd NDC Meeting [NEA/NDC(2013)29]
- Third Mandate of the Working Party on Nuclear Energy Economics (WPNE) [NEA/NDC(2014)5]
- Fourth Mandate of the Working Party on Nuclear Energy Economics (WPNE) [NEA/NDC(2016)22]
- Extension of the Mandate of the Working Party on Nuclear Energy Economics (WPNE) [NEA/NDC(2019)23/FINAL]
- WPNE mandate approved under the written procedure on 12 November 2022 by the WPNE [NEA/NDC(2022)4/PROV]
- Summary Record of the 23rd meeting of the WPNE held on 9-10 February 2023 (forthcoming)
- Mandate of the Working Party on Nuclear Energy Economics (WPNE) [NEA/NDC(2022)4/FINAL]
Mandate (Document extract):
Extract of document NEA/NDC(2022)4/FINAL
Mandate
The WPNE is responsible for supporting and advising the Committee for Technical and Economic Studies on Nuclear Energy Development and Fuel Cycle (NDC) in carrying out its programme of work areas related to nuclear energy economics.
Scope and Objectives
The WPNE will:
- provide a forum for the exchange of information between experts on all economic aspects of nuclear energy systems and economic aspects of all activities under the NDC programme of work;
- carry out, on a periodic basis, studies on the costs and economics of nuclear energy used for both electric and non-electric applications. This includes investment, O&M, and the fuel cycle (plant-level costs), the impacts on the electricity system at large (system costs), as well as the impacts on the wider environment, security of supply and society (external costs);
- examine the role, costs and economics of nuclear energy systems in liberalised and regulated electricity markets, including the impacts of changes in energy policies and market regulation, in co-operation with appropriate others;
- examine, on an Ad hoc basis, specific economic issues, such as capital costs of nuclear facilities and their financing, management and financing of liabilities (e.g. decommissioning, waste disposal), identification and valuation of externalities;
- study the performance of nuclear generation in liberalised and regulated electricity markets, including the impacts of changes in energy policies and market regulation;
- develop methods and models for assessing the cost of nuclear energy systems including innovative reactors and fuel cycles.
Working methods
The WPNE will meet periodically, usually twice a year, and organise workshops or symposia on economic aspects of nuclear energy on an Ad hoc basis.
The NDC will identify activities to be conducted by the WPNE, but will also expect the WPNE to provide its own proposals for potential topics to be included in the biennial programme of work.
All reports, publications and products of the WPNE will be reviewed and approved by the NDC before being released.
The WPNE will report to the NDC on its progress and activities as requested, and at least on an annual basis.
Membership
WPNE includes a diverse range of senior specialists who have considerable experience and knowledge in the area of energy economics and finance in particular that of nuclear energy, from government ministries and agencies, research institutions and academia.
Interactions
The WPNE will closely co-operate and discuss issues identified by the group with other NEA bodies that have crosscutting interests.
WPNE will also co-operate, as appropriate, with other entities in the OECD Family (e.g. the IEA) other international organisations (e.g. the IAEA and the European Commission), as well with industry organisations (i.e. WNA) and experts, as well as with academia when it comes to its task to examine the costs and economics of nuclear energy systems and other relevant areas.
Deliverables
The WPNE will produce reports and studies on all aspects of the costs and economics of nuclear energy in liberalised and regulated electricity markets, including the impacts of changes in energy policies and market regulation.
