Energy Costs by Category

Via Frank Smith, the following estimates of relative costs of different energy options were published in the Globe and Mail newspaper, May 30th, 2005, credited to Grant Wing writing for the Globe and Mail. A couple of things missing here: comparison of relative capacity factors for the different options, which effectively translate into much higher per-kW capital costs, and an estimate of the scale to which each option may be available. Also, I wonder where the nuclear numbers come from - certainly not recent experience in the US or Canada. Still, a useful snapshot.

Cost Estimates for Electric Power sources by Grant Wing:

Energy source operational costs capital costs

FOSSIL FUEL 6 to 8 cents per kWh U.S.$1000 to 1500 per kW

HYDROELECTRIC 5.5 cents per kWh U.S.$2000 per kW

NUCLEAR 2 to 3 cents per kWh U.S.$1500 to 2500 per kW

WIND 6 to 12 cents per kWh U.S.$800 to 1800 per kW

WAVE 6 to 15 cents per kWh U.S.$2000 to 3000 per kW

LOW IMPACT or RUN of RIVER HYDROELECTRIC 5 cents per kWh U.S.$1500 to 2500 per kW

FUEL CELLS (COGENERATION doubles fuel efficiency from 40 to 80 %) U.S.$1200 to $4000 per kW

SOLAR 27 cents per kWh U.S.$3000 to 9000 per kW

BIOMASS 5 to 8.5 cents per kWh

Energy source	operational costs	capital costs
FOSSIL FUEL	6 to 8 cents per kWh	U.S.$1000 to 1500 per kW
HYDROELECTRIC	5.5 cents per kWh	U.S.$2000 per kW
NUCLEAR	2 to 3 cents per kWh	U.S.$1500 to 2500 per kW
WIND	6 to 12 cents per kWh	U.S.$800 to 1800 per kW
WAVE	6 to 15 cents per kWh	U.S.$2000 to 3000 per kW
LOW IMPACT or RUN of RIVER HYDROELECTRIC	5 cents per kWh	U.S.$1500 to 2500 per kW
FUEL CELLS (COGENERATION doubles fuel efficiency from 40 to 80 %)		U.S.$1200 to $4000 per kW
SOLAR	27 cents per kWh	U.S.$3000 to 9000 per kW
BIOMASS	5 to 8.5 cents per kWh