“The Financing of Nuclear Power Plants” (2009) is a comprehensive report published by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) that examines the key economic and financial issues associated with building and operating nuclear power plants. The report analyzes why nuclear projects are capital-intensive and how this impacts financing structures, highlighting factors such as long construction periods, regulatory uncertainty, and high upfront costs. It explores different financing models, including regulated cost-of-service structures, merchant markets, and public–private partnerships, and discusses the role of government policy, risk allocation, and contractual frameworks in improving bankability. The publication also reviews case studies from multiple countries to illustrate how financial and contractual arrangements can influence investor confidence, cost of capital, and ultimately the competitiveness of nuclear power relative to other energy options.
