Table 3: Inter-fuel/technology lifetime levelised kWh cost comparisons
Technology |
Conventional DCF* (US c/kWh) |
Ideal risk-adjusted DCF** (US c/kWh) |
% change*** |
Empirical risk-adjusted DCF** (US c/kWh) |
% change*** |
Geothermal |
3.3 |
3.1 |
-6 |
3.1 |
-6 |
Biomass |
2.8 |
3.2 |
+14 |
3.2 |
+14 |
Wind |
4.0 |
3.6 |
-10 |
3.6 |
-10 |
Large hydro |
5.0 |
4.7 |
-6 |
4.7 |
-6 |
Nuclear |
4.0 |
5.5 |
+38 |
5.5 |
+38 |
Coal IGCC |
3.2 |
4.2 |
+31 |
6.0 |
+87 |
Pulverised coal |
3.2 |
4.5 |
+41 |
6.7 |
+109 |
GTCC |
3.0 |
5.0 |
+72 |
7.2 |
+140 |
GT single cycle |
3.4 |
6.0 |
+86 |
9.4 |
+176 |
Solar thermal |
11.9 |
11.1 |
-6 |
11.1 |
-6 |
* From IEA World Energy Outlook 2000, that uses a flat 7.0 discount rate for all technologies.
** Computed by Awerbuch using variable, theoretically defensible discount rates for each technology according to the ideal and empirical cases.
*** From conventional in the first column.
Source: Shimon Awerbuch, Tyndall Centre, Sussex University