Using NECOST#

This guide provides instructions to use NE-COST, to calculate the levelized cost of electricity at equilibrium (LCAE).

Using NE-COST via Python#

  1. Installation

    Navigate to the ACCERT/src directory and run the setup.py file to install the package.

    $ cd ACCERT/src
$ ./setup_necost.sh

  2. Prepare Your Input File

    NECOST requires an input file in the SON format. The input file should contain the following information:

    construction_interest_rate operations_interest_rate fuel_cycles reactors capital_costs om_costs fuel_costs fuel_inputs

    An example input file is provided in the tutorial directory necost.son.

  3. Run NECOST

    To run NECOST, navigate to the directory contain the input file and run the following command:

    $ python necostmain.py -i <input_file>

    The output file ‘NECOST_results.csv’ will contain the LCAE and other relevant information.

  4. Analyze the Results

    The output file ‘NECOST_results.csv’ contains the following information:

    • Levelized Hydride Cap

    • Levelized Hydride Cost

    • Levelized Hydride OM

    • Levelized FCC

    • HM_mass_direct_spec

    • t_cyc

    • L_direct_spec

    The Levelized Hydride Cap is the capital cost of the reactor divided by the net electrical energy produced.

    The Levelized Hydride Cost is the total cost of the reactor divided by the net electrical energy produced.

    The Levelized Hydride OM is the operational and maintenance cost of the reactor divided by the net electrical energy produced.

    The Levelized FCC is the fuel cycle cost divided by the net electrical energy produced.

    HM_mass_direct_spec is the heavy metal mass in the core (tonn).

    t_cyc is the cycle length of the reactor.

    L_direct_spec is the capacity factor of the reactor.

Using NE-COST via NEAMS Workbench#

  1. Open NEAMS Workbench

    • Launch the NEAMS Workbench application on your system.

  2. Add NECOST Configuration

    Navigate to the ACCERT/src directory and run the setup file to install the package.

    $ cd ACCERT/src
$ ./setup_necost.sh

    • Navigate to Workbench > Configurations.

    • Click Add and select Necost from the list of available configurations.

    • Set the Executable path to Main.py located in the ACCERT/src/ directory.

    • Load the grammar by clicking Load Grammar.

    Windows Users!

    To begin using ACCERT, please change the necostmain.py file with executable permissions. You can do this by right-clicking the file, selecting Properties, and enabling the Execute permission under the Permissions tab.

  3. Run Necost

    • Open your input file within the Workbench environment.

    • Click the Run button to execute Necost.

    • Review the results in NECOST_results.csv directly within Workbench.