The study, ordered and endorsed by the European Commission, revealed that generating electricity from onshore wind has an approximate cost of €105 per megawatt hour compared with up to €164 for gas, €133 for nuclear and €162 to €233 for coal.
According to the study, offshore wind costs €186 whereas solar PV costs about €217 per MWh.
Onshore and offshore wind technologies have flexibility to reduce costs while coal does not have this option.
The European Union’s (EU) energy mix external costs stood between €150bn and €310bn in 2012.
The European Wind Energy Association deputy chief executive officer Justin Wilkes said: "This report highlights the true cost of Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels. Renewables are regularly denigrated for being too expensive and a drain on the taxpayer.
"Not only does the Commission’s report show the alarming cost of coal but it also presents onshore wind as both cheaper and more environmentally-friendly."
"This report shows that we should use the 2030 climate and energy package as a foundation for increasing the use of wind energy in Europe to improve our competitiveness, security and environment."
Image:The study revealed that generating electricity from onshore wind has an approximate cost of €105 per megawatt hour. Photo: Courtesy of European Wind Energy Association.
