First. $120/MWh for new built nuclear power is cheaper than any modern western reactors. Real costs are ~180-220/MWh when running at 100% 24/7 all year around. As based on Vogtle, FV3, HPC, proposed EPR2s, proposed Polish reactors etc.

The problem with these ”system costs” analyses is that they don’t capture the direct physical incentive structure of our grids.

Why should someone with rooftop solar and a home battery buy $180-220/MWh when they have their own electricity available?

Why should they not sell their excess to the grid cheaper than said nuclear power? It is zero marginal cost after all.

You can call it tragedy of the commons but new built nuclear power simply is unfit for our modern grids.

We need firming for near emergency reserves coming from production with the cheapest possible CAPEX without an outrageous OPEX.

Likely gas turbines running on carbon neutral fuels. But only if we determine that they are needed in the 2030s.

New built nuclear power simply doesn’t even enter the picture in late 2025.