Thermoeconomic analysis and environmental impact assessment of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant

Within the scope of this study, a thermoeconomic analysis was carried out for Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), the first nuclear power plant of Türkiye. As a result of the analysis, it is aimed to reduce the cost of energy production and prevent thermal pollution at the same time by converting the heat discharged into the environment into useful heat due to the working principle of NPP. Thermodynamic analysis was performed in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) program using equipment values equivalent to ANPP. Cost analysis was performed using the specific exergy costing (SPECO) method, which is based on the second law of thermodynamics and is the most widely used cost analysis method. The study concludes that the energy efficiency is 35%, while the economic analysis shows that the best case has an exergy efficiency of 68% with a payback period of 7–8 years, and an electricity cost of $0.0196 per kWh. It is possible to use the heat discharged from the plant indirectly in district heating (heating, hot water needs of the lodgings, guesthouses in the facility), greenhouse heating, agricultural drying and heating, considering the geographical conditions and livelihood of the region. Thus, 68% of the waste heat was utilized, the unit cost of the energy produced was reduced and at the same time thermal pollution was reduced at the same rate. The results of the study can contribute to the efforts preventing energy waste, thermal environmental pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it could aid in the development of more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly power generation systems, including pioneering nuclear power plants in developing countries.