Projected Costs of Electricity Generation

Abstract

This paper describes the outcomes from the joint report between the Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Energy Agency of the OECD on the projected costs of generating electricity. It is the seventh in the series and presents the latest data available on electricity generating costs for a wide variety of fuels and technologies, including coal, gas, nuclear, hydro, onshore and offshore wind, biomass, solar, wave and tidal. The study contains data on electricity generating costs for almost 200 power plants provided by 16 OECD member countries, 4 non-OECD countries and 4 industrial companies or industry organisations. The study presents the projected costs of generating electricity calculated according to common methodological rules on the basis of the data provided by participating countries and organisations. Cost estimates were also provided for combined heat and power (CHP) plants, as well as for coal plants that include carbon capture. As in previous studies of the same series, all costs and benefits were discounted or capitalised to the date of commissioning in order to calculate the levelised costs of electricity (LCOE) per MWh, based on plant operating lifetime data.