Parliament Question: LCOE vis-a-vis nuclear capacity expansion

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3046 ANSWERED ON 19/03/2026 LCOE VIS-A-VIS NUCLEAR CAPACITY EXPANSION 3046. SHRI G. C. CHANDRASHEKHAR Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:- a) whether Government has analysed the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of nuclear power vis-à-vis solar, wind and thermal power, including capital cost, fuel cycle and waste management components; and b) the manner in which these cost comparisons would form future nuclear capacity expansion decisions? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) & (b) Such comparison would be improper as operating life of the all technologies are substantially different. While solar and wind units have life of about 25 years or so and thermal has a life of about 30-40 years, nuclear power plant has life of about 60 years. Thus any attempted comparison of LCOE would not be appropriate. Therefore, the tariff for the nuclear power plants is not determined on the basis of LCOE method, but is determined based on the principle of multiyear tariff framework, on basis of cost plus approach. Further, the off-take of the nuclear power plant is not through the process of competitive bidding, it is through the process of allotment to the states/union territories in the region, as decided by the Ministry of Power, based on a laid down policy. *****